Floral easel

ABSTRACT

An erectable and/or collapsible floral easel for holding a floral object is disclosed. Methods of using a floral easel, methods of storing a floral easel, and methods of placing a floral object on a floral easel are also disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 13/037,438, filedMar. 1, 2011; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 12/287,117, filedOct. 6, 2008; which is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 12/150,258, filedApr. 25, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,707,806, issued May 4, 2010; which isa continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/973,861, filed Oct. 26, 2004, nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,426,813, issued Sep. 23, 2008; which is a divisional ofU.S. Ser. No. 10/970,979, filed Oct. 22, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No.7,726,622, issued Jun. 1, 2010; which claims benefit under 35 U.S.C.119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/572,149, filed May18, 2004. The entire contents of each of the above-referenced patentsand patent applications are hereby expressly incorporated by referenceherein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) relates to afloral easel for holding a floral object, and more particularly but notby way of limitation, to an erectable or collapsible floral easel forholding a floral object. In one aspect, the presently disclosed andclaimed inventive concept(s) relates to a floral easel for holdingand/or supporting a floral object. In yet another aspect, the presentlydisclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) relates to methods ofshipping a floral easel, methods of using a floral easel, methods ofstoring a floral easel, and methods of placing a floral object on afloral easel.

2. Description of the Related Art

Easels have previously been used in industries such as, for example,art, photography, music, education, framing and the like to support anddisplay designated items. These non-floral easels are expensive tofabricate and unsuitable for use as a floral easel. In the floralindustry, floral easels are usually constructed of wood or non-woodmaterials, such as, for example, steel. Such floral easels are usuallycumbersome and difficult to ship, transport, and store in that they donot have the ability to readily fold into a position that is compact andeasily manageable. Typically, for example, at least two legs of currentfloral easels are in an open, fixed (erected) position making itimpossible to fold the floral easel into a compact bundle fortransportation. Currently, florists attach floral arrangements to woodor non-wood floral easels by affixing the floral arrangement to the twolegs that are in the open, fixed (erect) position and transport theeasels with only a third leg being collapsed. After a funeral visitationor service in the funeral home or chapel, the only collapsible leg ofthe current floral easel is collapsed while the other legs remain in theopen and erect position. The easel is then transported to the cemeterywhere the collapsible leg is again erected, usually with the legspressed several inches into the soil for anchoring purposes. The displayis used again during a grave side service or as a decoration at thegrave site after the service. These non-wood floral easels arefrequently transported to various ceremonies and discarded after theceremony. The transportability of current non-wood floral easels istherefore not maximized because of the bulky nature of these easels, andrecyclability of current non-wood floral easels is poor due to the bulkynature of current non-wood floral easels.

Further, shipping and/or freight costs currently reflect the cumbrousnature of shipping current non-wood floral easels. For example,depending on the freight zone, freight costs may range from 9.26% to36.14% of the total manufacturing costs. This is because currentnon-wood floral easels are produced in a factory and shipped to adesignated location with two of the three legs fixed in the erectedposition with only one of the legs being collapsible. Shipping thesetypes of floral easels is costly due to the large amount of space thecurrent floral easel requires because of its inability to fully collapseinto a bundle. A floral easel that is fully or partially collapsiblewould dramatically decrease shipping costs; for example, fully orpartially collapsible non-wood floral easels may reduce freight costs byup to 75% when compared to the freight costs of current non-wood floraleasels.

Warehousing space must also be maximized to accommodate storage of suchfloral easels. For example, when arriving at a distributorship or flowershop, current non-wood floral easels require the manufacturer,distributor or florist to provide an excessive and unnecessary amount ofstorage space for the easel which is attributed to the inability of thefloral easel to fully collapse. Also, the reuse of current non-woodfloral easels by florists is poor or even non-existent due to theextreme difficulty of packing and transporting the easels.

Current wood floral easels are typically bulkier than non-wood floraleasels and require more space even when the current wood floral easel isin a partially collapsed or fully collapsed position. Furthermore, woodis a scarce natural resource and alternative materials are more readilyavailable for the construction of floral easels. Current wood floraleasels are subject to warping upon continued use, especially whenstoring. These easels must be stored in a careful manner, avoidingexposure to certain conditions and must be disposed in a flat planebecause of a tendency to conform to a non-linear plane. Current woodfloral easels are also subject to insect infestation which requiresirradiation when importing (or otherwise be subject to recall), andsubject to splintering making the current wood floral easel difficult totransport in commerce as well as difficult to use and re-use. The woodof current wood floral easels must also be treated to provide thedesired surface conditions (i.e., for sanding or painting) making thematerial prohibitively expensive when compared to other non-woodmaterials from which the floral easel could be constructed. Current woodfloral easels also require assembly as well as articulation among thelegs.

It is to this end that there is a need in the industry for a fully orpartially erectable or collapsible floral easel that overcomes thedisadvantages and defects of current floral easels and that is compact,easily transportable, less expensive to ship and store, and is fullyreusable. It is to such a floral easel that the presently disclosed andclaimed inventive concept(s) is directed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the erectable or collapsible floraleasel of the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) in theopen position.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the erectable or collapsible floraleasel of the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) in theclosed position.

FIG. 1C is a perspective view of the erectable or collapsible floraleasel of the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) in theopen position having a floral object placed thereon.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable orcollapsible floral easel of the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) in the open position.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable orcollapsible floral easel of the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) in the closed position.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable orcollapsible floral easel of the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) in the open position.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable orcollapsible floral easel of the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) in the closed position.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable orcollapsible floral easel of the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) in the open position.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable orcollapsible floral easel of the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) in the closed position.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable orcollapsible floral easel of the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) in the open position.

FIG. 5B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable orcollapsible floral easel of the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) in the closed position.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable orcollapsible floral easel of the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) in the open position.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable orcollapsible floral easel of the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) in the closed position.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable orcollapsible floral easel of the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) in the open position.

FIG. 7B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable orcollapsible floral easel of the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) in the closed position.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable orcollapsible floral easel of the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) in the open position.

FIG. 8B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable orcollapsible floral easel of the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) in the closed position.

FIG. 8C is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable orcollapsible floral easel of the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) in the open position.

FIG. 8D is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable orcollapsible floral easel of the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) in the closed position.

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable orcollapsible floral easel of the present invention in the open position.

FIG. 9B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable orcollapsible floral easel of the present invention in the closedposition.

FIG. 10A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable orcollapsible floral easel of the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) in the open position.

FIG. 10B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable orcollapsible floral easel of the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) in the closed position.

FIG. 11A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable orcollapsible floral easel of the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) in the open position.

FIG. 11B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable orcollapsible floral easel of the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) in the closed position.

FIG. 11C is a perspective view of the joining member of the embodimentof the erectable or collapsible floral easel as shown in FIGS. 11A-11B.

FIG. 11D is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable orcollapsible floral easel of the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) in the open position.

FIG. 12A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 12B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 12C is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 12D is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 12E is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 12F is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 12G is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 12H is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 12I is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 13A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 13B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 13C is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 13D is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 13E is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 14A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 14B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 14C is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 14D is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 14E is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 15A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 15B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 15C is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 15D is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 15E is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 16A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 16B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 16C is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 16D is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 16E is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

FIG. 16F is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easelof the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT(S)

It is to be understood that the inventive concept(s) is not limited inits application to the details of construction and the arrangements ofthe components set forth in the following description or illustrated inthe drawings. The inventive concept(s) is capable of other embodimentsor of being practiced or carried out in various ways which would beplain to one of ordinary skill in the art given the presentspecification, drawings and claims appended hereto. Also, it is to beunderstood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is forpurpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting and theclaimed inventive concept(s) should be given its broadest possiblemeaning consistent with the terms and phrasing used in the claims.

The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) is directed toa fully or partially erectable or collapsible floral easel for holding afloral object having at least two leg members, each of the leg membershaving a first end and a second end, the first end of each of the legmembers being associated at a joining assembly, wherein the leg membersare moveable from an open position to a second position wherein the legmembers occupy a lesser volume of space in the second position andfurther wherein the at least two legs are self-erecting from the secondposition to the open position and a splay assembly capable of holdingthe leg members in the open position. The floral easel of the presentlydisclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) may be self-erecting,self-collapsing, self-erecting and self-collapsing, semi-self-erecting,semi-self-collapsing and/or semi-self-erecting and semi-self-collapsing.Additionally, the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s)relates to methods of shipping an erectable or collapsible floral easel,methods of using an erectable or collapsible floral easel, methods ofstoring an erectable or collapsible floral easel, methods of placing afloral object on an erectable or collapsible easel, and methods ofdisplaying a floral object on or about an erectable or collapsiblefloral easel.

Description of FIG. 1

Referring now to FIGS. 1A and 1B, designated generally by the referencenumeral 10 is a floral easel. All of the embodiments of the floral easel10 described herein may be fully erectable and/or collapsible,semi-erectable and/or semi-collapsible, semi-self-erectable and/orsemi-self-collapsible, and combinations thereof. Further, all of theembodiments of the floral easel 10 described herein may be erectablewithout being collapsible and vice-versa. The term “erectable”, “erect”,or “open” as used herein means that the floral easel 10 is deployedfully for use as intended, i.e., the display of a floral object. Theterm “collapsible”, “collapsed”, or “closed” as used herein means thatthe floral easel 10 is positioned such that at least one of theplurality of leg members are capable of being in or are in a fully orpartially collapsed position. The term “fully erectable” as used hereinmeans that at least one of the plurality of leg members are capable ofbeing in or are positioned in the open position. The term “partiallyerectable” or “semi-erectable” as used herein means that one of theplurality of leg members of the floral easel is in a fully erectedposition or any number of the plurality of leg members are in apartially erected position. The floral easel 10 may be fully orpartially collapsible. The term “fully collapsible” as used herein meansthat at least one of the plurality of leg members are capable of beingpositioned in the fully collapsed position. The term “partiallycollapsible” or “semi-collapsible” as used herein means that one of theplurality of leg members is in a fully collapsed position or any numberof the plurality of leg members are in a partially collapsed position.Also, in one embodiment, the floral easel 10 may be reversibly erectableor irreversibly erectable. It should also be understood that the floraleasel 10 may only be capable of erecting yet not collapsing, collapsingyet not erecting, and erecting and collapsing.

The floral easel 10 has a plurality of leg members and, in oneembodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the floral easel 10 has a first legmember 20, a second leg member 30, and a third leg member 40. The floraleasel 10 also includes a splay assembly 12 for sustaining the floraleasel 10 in an open or erected position as shown in FIG. 1A.

As shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the first leg member 20 has a first end 60 anda second end 70. The second leg member 30 has a first end 80 and asecond end 90. The third leg member 40 has a first end 100 and a secondend 110. The first end 60 of the first leg member 20, the first end 80of the second leg member 30, and the first end 100 of the third legmember 40 are associated at a joining member 120. The second end 70 ofthe first leg member 20, the second end 90 of the second leg member 30,and the second end 110 of the third leg member 40 are generally incontact with a substrate 45 to thereby support and hold the floral easel10 in a position suitable for use as a display for a floral object. Thesubstrate 45 may be any surface such as, for example, a floor, dirt,grass, fiber, plastic, tile, carpet, combinations thereof, or anysurface capable of supporting floral easel 10 thereon.

All embodiments of the floral easel 10 described herein could be usedwith or without anchoring materials known in the art to prevent thefloral easel 10 from moving or tipping. Examples of anchoring materialsinclude, but are not limited to, adhesive, cohesive, spikes (metal orplastic), rubber feet or pads, combinations thereof, or any othermaterials capable of anchoring the floral easel 10 to the substrate 45.The anchoring material may be formed integrally or non-integrally withthe floral easel 10 and may be constructed of the same or differentmaterial as the floral easel 10.

In all of the embodiments of the floral easel 10 described herein, theleg members may be constructed of any material such as, for example,steel rod (tubular, flat, or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated oruncoated), aluminum rod (tubular, flat, or profile shaped) and/or wire(coated, anodized or uncoated), stainless steel rod (flat or profileshaped) and/or wire (coated or uncoated), plastic pieces of materialhaving cylindrical, tubular, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal,or other profile shapes or cross-sections of profile shapes, hollow,tubular or profile shaped materials made of metals or polymers, solid orhollow wood, synthetic or man-made materials, natural materials, or anyother suitable material. In a preferred embodiment, at least a portionof at least one of the leg members and/or the joining member 120 isconstructed of a substantially flexible material, i.e., at least aportion of at least one of the leg members is capable of bending. Theleg members may have any size diameter, width, or profile dimensionsand/or any length that is desired and useful for the particular use thefloral easel 10 is put. In general, however, the floral easel 10 willhave a height of from about ½″ to 300″, more preferably a height fromabout 10″ to about 60″, and most preferably a height from about 18″ toabout 36″.

At least two of the first leg member 20, the second leg member 30, andthe third leg member 40 may be formed as a single piece of material thatis integrally connected (shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B as one piece oftubular material forming an arch 130 having a center area 140).Alternatively, the first leg member 20 and the second leg member 30 maybe formed of two or more pieces of material. If the first leg member 20and the second leg member 30 are formed of two or more pieces ofmaterial, the materials may differ or the materials may be the same. Forexample, if the first leg member 20 and the second leg member 30 areformed of two or more pieces of material, one of the leg members may beformed of steel and the other may be formed of aluminum. In anotherembodiment, each of the plurality of leg members may be formed of atleast two or more materials. For example, a portion of at least one ofthe leg members may be steel and another portion of the leg member maybe aluminum. In yet another embodiment, the first leg member 20, thesecond leg member 30, and the third leg member 30 may be integrallyconnected. The plurality of leg members may be constructed of the samematerial or a different material. For example, at least one of theplurality of leg members may be constructed of steel and the other legmembers may be constructed of aluminum.

The joining member 120 for connecting and/or receiving the first end ofthe leg members may be formed of the same material as the leg members orthe joining member 120 may be formed of a different material than theleg members. Also, the joining member 120 may be integrally connected tothe first end 100 of the third leg member 40 or formed separately fromthe first end 100 of the third leg member 40. As shown in FIGS. 1A and1B, the joining member 120 is integrally connected to the first end 100of the third leg member 40 and is crimped around and pivotally connectedto the arch 130 formed in the center area 140 thereby integrally joiningthe first end 60 of the first leg member 20 and the first end 70 of thesecond leg member 30 to define an apex 150. In an alternativeembodiment, the joining member 120 need not be integrally connected tothe first end 100 of the third leg member 40, and alternatively, thejoining member 120 may be welded, clamped, glued, or any other method ofconnecting the joining member 120 to the first end of each of the legmembers. The joining member 120 may also be, for example, a solid blockholding device (as shown in FIGS. 11A-11D), or any other device capableof receiving the first ends of the leg members. Also, the first end 100of the third leg 40 need not be crimped around the arch 130. In analternative embodiment, the joining member 120 and the arch 130 areconnected using materials that permit the floral easel 10 to erectand/or collapse. Also, the first end 100 of the third leg 40 need not bepivotally connected to the arch 130. In an alternative embodiment, thefirst end 100 may be flexibly connected to the arch 130.

The splay assembly 12 for sustaining the floral easel 10 in the open orerected position has a bracing assembly 160 and a reinforcing member170. It should be understood that the splay assembly 12 may be formedseparately from the legs or the splay assembly 12 may be integrallyconnected to the legs. Alternatively, the bracing assembly 160 may beformed non-integrally from the legs and the reinforcing member 170 maybe formed integrally with the legs or vice-versa. The bracing assembly160 has a first arm 180 and a second arm 190. The first arm 180 has afirst end 200 and a second end 210. The second arm 190 has a first end220 and a second end 230. The first end 200 of the first arm 180 isconnected to the first leg member 20. The first end 220 of the secondarm 190 is connected to the second leg member 30. The second end 210 ofthe first arm 180 and the second end 230 of the second arm 190 areconnected to the third leg member 40. In the embodiment shown in FIGS.1A-1C, the bracing assembly 160 is constructed of one continuous pieceof material. The first end 200 of the first arm 180 forms a loop 232around the first leg member 20 and is slidably connected to the firstleg member 20, the first end 220 of the second arm 190 forms a loop 234around the second leg member 30 and is slidably connected to the secondleg member 30, the second end 210 of the first arm 180 and second end230 of the second arm 190 form a contiguous loop 236 around the thirdleg member 40 and the loop 236 is slidably and pivotally connected tothe third leg member 40. It will be appreciated, however, that the firstarm 180 and the second arm 190 may be connected to the leg members inany manner as long as the leg members are able to fully collapse.

The bracing assembly 160 may be a single piece of material, or more thanone piece of material. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the bracingassembly 160 is a single piece of material wherein the second end 210 ofthe first arm 180 and the second end 230 of the second arm 190 form acontinuous loop around the third leg member 40 wherein the looped areais slidably and pivotally connected to the third leg member 40. If thebracing assembly 160 is fabricated using sufficiently flexible andspringy material, it need not be slidably or pivotally connected to anyor all of the plurality of leg members.

The bracing assembly 160 may be constructed of the same material as theleg members or the bracing assembly 160 may be constructed of adifferent material than the leg members as long as the material allowsthe bracing assembly 160 to sustain the floral easel 10 in the open orerected position.

If the third leg 40 is not pivotally connected to at least one of thefirst leg 20 and the second leg 30, or, if the third leg 40 is pivotallyconnected to at least one of the first leg 20 and the second leg 30limiting its travel to positions of full erection, full collapse, orintermediate positions; and, if the first leg 20 and the second leg 30are connected to limit travel to positions from full erection to fullcollapse, then at least one of the bracing assembly 160 and reinforcingmember 170 can be eliminated from this embodiment of the floral easel10.

A stop member 235 may be connected adjacent and underneath the secondarm 190 of the bracing assembly 160 to prevent the bracing assembly 160from sliding down the second leg member 30 of the floral easel 10. Thestop member 235 may be constructed of the same material as the legmember or of a different material than the leg member. In the embodimentshown in FIG. 1A, the stop member 235 is a horizontal cross-piececonnected adjacent and below the second arm 190 of the bracing assembly160. However, the stop member 235 may be connected to any of the legmembers of the floral easel 10. It should be understood that the stopmember 235 is not required; however, for embodiments in which thebracing assembly 160 is slidably or pivotally connected to at least oneleg member, the stop member 235 aids in the erection and enhances thestability of the floral easel 10.

The reinforcing member 170 has a first end 240 and a second end 250. Thefirst end 240 is connected to the first leg member 20 and the second end250 is connected to the second leg member 30. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, the first end 240 forms a loop 252 around the first leg member20 and is slidably connected to the first leg member 20 and the secondend 250 forms a loop 254 around the second leg member 30 and is slidablyconnected to the second leg member 30. It will be appreciated, however,that the first end 240 and the second end 250 may be connected in anymanner to the first leg member 20 and second leg member 30 of the floraleasel 10.

For example, but not by way of limitation, the reinforcing member 170may be selected from the group consisting of elastic, a rope, a cord, achain, a strap, a cable, a wire, springs, tubing, plastic, profiles,wood, polymer/fiber, adhesive, cohesive, Velcro, combinations thereof orany other device which allows the floral easel 10 to be sustained in theopen or erected position. The reinforcing member 170 may also beconstructed of the same material as the leg members or the reinforcingmember 170 may be constructed of a different material than the legmembers as long as the material allows the reinforcing member 170 tosustain the floral easel 10 in the open or erected position. It will beappreciated, however, that the reinforcing member 170 is not necessaryin alternate embodiments where a more flexible floral easel 10 isdesirable or acceptable for use.

A stop member 255 may also be connected to the first leg member 20 ofthe floral easel 10 and placed adjacent and underneath the first end 240of the reinforcing member 170 for preventing the reinforcing member 170from sliding down the first leg member 20 of the floral easel 10.However, it should be understood that the stop member 235 may be placedon either the first leg member 20 or the second leg member 30 of thefloral easel 10. The stop member 255 may be constructed of the samematerial as the designated leg member or of a different material thanthe designated leg member. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, the stopmember 255 is a horizontal cross-piece connected adjacent and below thefirst end 240 of the reinforcing member 170. However, the stop member255 may be connected to either the first leg member 20, the second legmember 30, the third leg member 40 or any of the first leg member 20,the second leg member 30, and the third leg member 40 of the floraleasel 10. It should be understood that multiple stop members may be usedon the floral easel. It should also be understood that the stop membersare not necessary to the erection, collapsibility, or stability of thefloral easel 10; however, the stop members may enhance stability andfacilitate erection of the floral easel 10. The reinforcing member 170may also provide at least one location on the floral easel 10 to whichfloral objects and decorations may be fastened using wire clips, glue orany other fastening means capable of securing floral objects anddecorations to the floral easel 10.

In all of the embodiments of the floral easel described herein, thefloral easel 10 may be employed to hold and/or support a floral object260 (FIG. 1C) by placing the floral object 260 about the apex 150 of thefloral easel 10. The term “floral object” as used herein will beunderstood to include any floral object which can be placed on a floraleasel such as, but not limited to, a floral grouping, a floraldecoration, a wreath, hanging potted plants, foam shapes (for example, across, words (i.e., mom), a flag), non-floral objects such as, forexample, a photograph, a piece of artwork, a flag or any other objectthat is capable of being displayed on a floral easel.

The term “floral grouping” as used herein refers to a single flower,foliage, a botanical item, a propagule, cut flowers, and/or other freshand/or artificial plants or floral materials, including secondaryplants, growing potted plants having a root portion and/or otherornamentation which adds to the aesthetic qualities of the overallfloral grouping. The term “floral grouping” as used herein may alsorefer to a “floral grouping”, as defined above, which is disposed withina pot or a flower pot.

A support member 270 (FIGS. 1A and 1B) may also be employed to holdand/or support the floral object 260 (or non-floral object), however,any portion of the floral easel 10 may hold or support the floral object260 or non-floral object, such as, for example, the joining member 120,the bracing assembly 160, the reinforcing member 170 or any other areaof the floral easel 10 capable of supporting the floral object 260 or anon-floral object. The support member 270 may be connected to any areaof the floral easel 10 such as, for example, the joining member 120, theleg members, or to the reinforcing member 170. The support member 270may be any kind of device capable of supporting the floral object 260.For example, but not by way of limitation, the support member 270 may beselected from the group consisting of a hook, a platform, a magnet,wire, adhesive, cohesive, Velcro, a slot, a loop, a tab, a groove, aspring, elastic, a band, ribbon, a clip, combinations thereof, or anyother device that is capable of holding and/or supporting the floralobject 260. The support member 270, as shown in FIG. 1, is a hookconnected to the joining member 120.

The support member 270 may be constructed of the same material as theleg members or the support member 270 may be constructed of a differentmaterial than the leg members as long as the material is capable ofholding and/or supporting the floral object 260.

All of the embodiments of the floral easel 10 described herein may alsohave a retaining member 280 for retaining the leg members in thecollapsed position. For example, but not by way of limitation, theretaining member 280 may be selected from the group consisting ofelastic, a clip or clips, a spring, a band, shrink material, stretchmaterial, the joining member 120, a carton, a tube, a bend in the legmembers, a groove, a slot, a loop, a hook, a wire, a bow, a rope, amagnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, combinationsthereof, or any other device capable of retaining the leg members in thecollapsed position. The retaining member 280 may also be constructed ofthe same material as the leg members or the retaining member 280 may beconstructed of a different material than the leg members as long as thematerial is capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsedposition. Alternatively, the retaining member 280 may be eliminated fromthe floral easel 10 and the plurality of leg members may be retained inthe collapsed position by the joining member 120.

As shown in FIG. 1, the retaining member 280 is connected to the firstleg member 20; however, for example, the retaining member 280 may beattached to any of the leg members, the bracing assembly 160, thereinforcing member 170, or to any other area of the floral easel 10 thatis suitable for connecting the retaining member 280 or may be a separatedevice unconnected to the floral easel 10.

To move the floral easel 10 from the open or erected position (shown inFIG. 1A) to the collapsed position (shown in FIG. 1B), the bracingassembly 160 is rotated about the loop 232 and the loop 234 to cause theloop 236 to slide in an upward direction toward the first end 100 of thethird leg member 40 thereby pivoting the third leg member 40 inwardtoward the area between the first leg member 20 and the second legmember 30. The reinforcing member 170 is also moved in an upwarddirection to cause the loop 254 of the second end 250 of the reinforcingmember 170 to slide in an upward manner along the first end 100 of thesecond leg member 30. The first end 60 of the first leg member 20 andthe first end 80 of the second leg member 30 are compressed togetherthereby decreasing the angle formed at the arch 130 between the centerarea 140 of the first leg member 20 and the second leg member 30. Thesecond end 70, the second end 90, and the second end 110 may then beinserted into the retaining member 280 forming the leg members into abundle 290 (shown in FIG. 1B).

While methods of collapsing and methods of erecting the floral easelhave been described herein, it is to be understood that other methods ofcollapsing the easels of the presently disclosed and claimed inventiveconcept(s) will be evident to a person having ordinary skill in the artand therefore, such additional methods of collapsing and methods oferecting the floral easel are also within the scope of the presentlydisclosed and claimed inventive concept(s).

It is also to be understood that the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) also encompasses any embodiments described hereinor modifications thereof with the skill of a person in the art. Forexample, any of the embodiments of the floral easel described herein maybe self-erecting, self-collapsing, self-erecting and self-collapsing,semi-self-erecting, semi-self-collapsing, or semi-self-erecting andsemi-self-collapsing. Also, any of the embodiments of the presentlydisclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) described herein may be madeso that no more than one assembly must be accomplished to maintain theeasel in the erect position, semi-erect position, collapsed position, orsemi-collapsed position.

Description of FIG. 2

Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, designated generally by the referencenumeral 10 b is a floral easel.

The floral easel 10 b has a plurality of leg members and, in oneembodiment shown in FIG. 2, the floral easel 10 b has a first leg member20 b, a second leg member 30 b and a third leg member 40 b. The floraleasel 10 b also includes a splay assembly 12 b that is capable ofsustaining the floral easel 10 b in an open or erected position as shownin FIG. 2A.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the first leg member 20 b has a first end60 b and a second end 70 b, the second leg member 30 b has a first end80 b and a second end 90 b, and the third leg member 40 b has a firstend 100 b and a second end 110 b. The second end 70 b of the first legmember 20 b, the second end 90 b of the second leg member 30 b, and thesecond end 110 b of the third leg member 40 b are generally in contactwith a substrate 45 b to thereby support and hold the floral easel 10 bin a position suitable for use as a display for a floral object. Thesubstrate 45 b may be any surface such as, for example, a floor, dirt,grass, fiber, plastic, or any surface capable of supporting the floraleasel 10 b thereon.

At least two of the first leg member 20 b, the second leg member 30 b,and the third leg member 40 b may be formed as a single piece ofmaterial that is integrally connected (shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B as onepiece of tubular material) thereby forming a loop 112 b around a portionof the third leg member 40 b. Alternatively, the first leg member 20 band the second leg member 30 b may be formed of two or more pieces ofmaterial. If the first leg member 20 b and the second leg member 30 bare formed of two or more pieces of material, the materials may differor the materials may be the same. For example, if the first leg member20 b and the second leg member 30 b are formed of two or more pieces ofmaterial, one of the leg members may be formed of steel and the othermay be formed of aluminum. In another embodiment, each of the pluralityof leg members may be formed of at least two or more materials. Forexample, a portion of at least one of the leg members may be steel andanother portion of the leg member may be aluminum. In yet anotherembodiment, the first leg member 20 b, the second leg member 30 b, andthe third leg member 30 b may be integrally connected. The plurality ofleg members may be constructed of the same material or a differentmaterial. For example, at least one of the plurality of leg members maybe constructed of steel and the other leg members may be constructed ofaluminum.

The first end 100 b of the third leg member 40 b has an extended portion114 b extending a distance beyond a juncture 116 b of the first end 60 bof the first leg member 20 b and the first end 80 b of the second legmember 30 b.

The splay assembly 12 b for sustaining the floral easel 10 b in the openor erected position has a bracing assembly 160 b and a reinforcingmember 170 b. It should be understood that the splay assembly 12 b maybe formed separately from the legs or the splay assembly 12 b may beintegrally connected to the legs. Alternatively, the bracing assembly160 b may be formed non-integrally from the legs and the reinforcingmember 170 b may be formed integrally with the legs or vice-versa. Thebracing assembly 160 b has a first arm 180 b and a second arm 190 b. Thefirst arm 180 b has a first end 200 b and a second end 210 b. The secondarm 190 b has a first end 220 b and a second end 230 b. The first end200 b of the first arm 180 b is connected to the first leg member 20 b.The first end 220 b of the second arm 190 b is connected to the secondleg member 30 b. The second end 210 b of the first arm 180 b and thesecond end 230 b of the second arm 190 b are connected to the third legmember 40 b. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the bracingassembly 160 b is constructed of one continuous piece of material. Thefirst end 200 b of the first arm 180 b forms a loop 232 b around thefirst leg member 20 b and is slidably connected to the first leg member20 b, the first end 220 b of the second arm 190 b forms a loop 234 baround the second leg member 30 b and is slidably connected to thesecond leg member 30 b, the second end 210 b of the first arm 180 b andsecond end 230 b of the second arm 190 b form a contiguous loop 236 baround the third leg member 40 b and the loop 236 b is slidably andpivotally connected to the third leg member 40 b. It will beappreciated, however, that the first arm 180 b and the second arm 190 bmay be connected to the leg members in any manner as long as the legmembers are able to collapse.

The bracing assembly 160 b may be a single piece of material or morethan one piece of material. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B,the bracing assembly 160 b is a single piece of material wherein thesecond end 210 b of the first arm 180 b and second end 230 b of thesecond arm 190 b form a continuous loop around the third leg member 40 bwherein the looped area is slidably and pivotally connected to the thirdleg member 40 b.

The bracing assembly 160 b may be constructed of the same material asthe leg members or the bracing assembly 160 b may be constructed of adifferent material than the leg members as long as the material allowsthe bracing assembly 160 b to sustain the floral easel 10 b in the openor erected position.

If the third leg 40 b is not pivotally connected to at least one of thefirst leg 20 b and the second leg 30 b, or, if the third leg 40 b ispivotally connected to at least one of the first leg 20 b and the secondleg 30 b limiting its travel to positions of full erection, fullcollapse, or intermediate positions, and if the first leg 20 b and thesecond leg 30 b are connected to limit travel to positions from fullerection to full collapse; then at least one of the bracing assembly 160b and reinforcing member 170 b can be eliminated from this embodiment ofthe floral easel 10 b.

A stop member 235 b is connected adjacent and underneath the second arm190 b of the bracing assembly 160 b to prevent the bracing assembly 160b from sliding down the second leg member 30 b of the floral easel 10 b.The stop member 235 b may be constructed of the same material as the legmembers or of a different material than the leg members. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 2A, the stop member 235 b is a horizontalcross-piece connected adjacent and below the second arm 190 b of thebracing assembly 160 b. However, the stop member 235 b may be connectedto any of the leg members of the floral easel 10 b. It should beunderstood that the stop member 235 b is not required, however, forembodiments in which the bracing assembly 160 b is slidably or pivotallyconnected to at least one leg member, the stop member 235 b aids in theerection and enhances the stability of the floral easel 10 b.

The reinforcing member 170 b has a first end 240 b and a second end 250b. The first end 240 b is connected to the first leg member 20 b and thesecond end 250 b is connected to the second leg member 30 b. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 2, the first end 240 b forms a loop 252 baround the first leg member 20 b and is slidably connected to the firstleg member 20 b and the second end 250 b forms a loop 254 b around thesecond leg member 30 b and is slidably connected to the second legmember 30 b. It will be appreciated, however, that the first end 240 band the second end 250 b may be connected in any manner to the first legmember 20 b and second leg member 30 b of the floral easel 10 b.

For example, but not by way of limitation, the reinforcing member 170 bmay be selected from the group consisting of elastic, a rope, a cord, achain, a strap, a cable, a wire, combinations thereof or any otherdevice which allows the floral easel 10 b to be sustained in the open orerect position. The reinforcing member 170 b may also be constructed ofthe same material as the leg members or the reinforcing member 170 b maybe constructed from a different material than the leg members as long asthe material allows the reinforcing member 170 b to sustain the floraleasel 10 b in the open or erect position. It will be appreciated,however, that the reinforcing member 170 b is not necessary in alternateembodiments where a more flexible floral easel 10 b is desirable oracceptable for use.

A stop member 255 b may also be connected to the first leg member 20 bof the floral easel 10 b and placed adjacent and underneath the firstend 240 b of the reinforcing member 170 b for preventing the reinforcingmember 170 b from sliding down the first leg member 20 b of the floraleasel 10 b. However, it should be understood that the stop member 255 bmay be placed on either the first leg member 20 b or the second legmember 30 b of the floral easel 10 b. The stop member 255 b may beconstructed of the same material as the designated leg member or of adifferent material than the designated leg member. In the embodimentshown in FIG. 2A, the stop member 255 b is a horizontal cross-piececonnected adjacent and below the first end 240 b of the reinforcingmember 170 b. However, the stop member 255 b may be connected to eitherthe first leg member 20 b, the second leg member 30 b, the third legmember 40 b or any of the first leg member 20 b, the second leg member30 b, and the third leg member 40 b of the floral easel 10 b. It shouldbe understood that multiple stop members may be used on the floraleasel. It should also be understood that the stop members are notnecessary to the erection, collapsibility, or stability of the floraleasel 10 b; however, the stop members may enhance stability andfacilitate erection of the floral easel 10 b. The reinforcing member 170b may also provide at least one location on the floral easel 10 b towhich floral objects and decorations may be fastened using wire clips,glue or any other fastening means capable of securing floral objectionsand decorations to the floral easel 10 b.

A support member 270 b (FIGS. 2A and 2B) may also be employed to holdand/or support the floral object (not shown) (or non-floral object),however, any portion of the floral easel 10 b may hold or support thefloral object 260 b or non-floral object, such as, for example, thebracing assembly 160 b, the reinforcing member 170 b or any other areaof the floral easel 10 b capable of supporting the floral object 260 bor a non-floral object. The support member 270 b may be connected to anyarea of the floral easel 10 b such as, for example, the leg members, orto the reinforcing member 170 b. The support member 270 b may be anykind of device capable of supporting the floral object 260 b. Forexample, but not by way of limitation, the support member 270 b may beselected from the group consisting of a hook, a platform, a magnet,wire, adhesive, cohesive, Velcro, a slot, a loop, a tab, a groove, aspring, elastic, a band, ribbon, a clip, combinations thereof, or anyother device that is capable of holding and/or supporting the floralobject. The support member 270 b, as shown in FIG. 2, is a hookconnected to the first end 100 b of the third leg member 40 b.

The support member 270 b may be constructed of the same material as theleg members or the support member 270 b may be constructed of adifferent material than the leg members as long as the material iscapable of holding and/or supporting the floral object.

The floral easel 10 b may also have a retaining member 280 b forretaining the leg members in the collapsed position. For example, butnot by way of limitation, the retaining member 280 b may be selectedfrom the group consisting of a hook, a loop, a wire, a bow, a rope, amagnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, combinationsthereof, or any other device capable of retaining the leg members in thecollapsed position. The retaining member 280 b may also be constructedof the same material as the leg members or the retaining member 280 bmay be constructed from a different material than the leg members aslong as the material is capable of retaining the leg members in thecollapsed position. For example, but not by way of limitation, theretaining member 280 b may be selected from the group consisting ofelastic, a clip or clips, a spring, a band, shrink material, stretchmaterial, a carton, a tube, a bend in the leg members, a groove, a slot,a loop, a hook, a wire, a bow, a rope, a magnet, a cord, a chain, astrap, a cable, adhesive, combinations thereof, or any other devicecapable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. Theretaining member 280 b may also be constructed of the same material asthe leg members or the retaining member 280 b may be constructed of adifferent material than the leg members as long as the material iscapable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position.

As shown in FIG. 2, the retaining member 280 b is connected to the firstleg member 20 b, however, for example, the retaining member 280 b may beattached to any of the leg members, the bracing assembly 160 b, thereinforcing member 170 b, or to any other area of the floral easel 10 bthat is suitable for connecting the retaining member 280 b or may be aseparate device unconnected to the floral easel 10 b.

To move the floral easel 10 b from the open or erect position (shown inFIG. 2A) to the collapsed position (shown in FIG. 2B), the bracingassembly 160 b is rotated about the loop 232 b and the loop 234 b tocause the loop 236 b to slide in an upward direction through the loop112 b toward the first end 100 b of the third leg member 40 b therebypivoting the third leg member 40 b inward toward the area between thefirst leg member 20 b and the second leg member 30 b. The reinforcingmember 170 b is also moved in an upward direction to cause the loop 254b of the second end 250 b of the reinforcing member 170 b to slide in anupward manner along the first end 100 b of the second leg member 30 b.The second end 70 b, the second end 90 b, and the second end 110 b maythen be inserted into the retaining member 280 b forming the leg membersinto a bundle 290 b (shown in FIG. 2B).

Description of FIG. 3

Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, designated generally by the referencenumeral 10 c is a floral easel. The floral easel 10 c has a plurality ofleg members and, in one embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the floral easel 10c has a first leg member 20 c, a second leg member 30 c, and a third legmember 40 c. The floral easel 10 c also includes a bracing assembly 50 cfor sustaining the floral easel 10 in an open or erected position shownin FIG. 3A.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the first leg member 20 c has a first end60 c, a second end 70 c, a first side 72 c and a second side 74 c. Thesecond leg member 30 c has a first end 80 c, a second end 90 c, a firstside 92 c and a second side 94 c. The third leg member 40 c has a firstend 100 c and a second end 110 c. The first end 60 c of the first legmember 20 c, the first end 80 c of the second leg member 30 c, and thefirst end 100 c of the third leg member 40 c may be integrally connectedat a joining member 120 c. The second side 74 c of the first leg member20 c, the second side 94 c of the second leg member 30 c, and thejoining member 120 c are generally in contact with a substrate 45 c tothereby support and hold the floral easel 10 c. The substrate 45 c maybe any surface such as, for example, a floor, dirt, grass, fiber,plastic, or any surface capable of supporting the floral easel 10 cthereon. The third leg member 40 c extends a distance 125 cperpendicular to the first leg member 20 c and the second leg member 30c.

At least two of the first leg member 20 c, the second leg member 30 c,and the third leg member 40 c may be formed as a single piece ofmaterial that is integrally connected (shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B as onepiece of tubular material forming an arch 130 c having a center area 140c). Alternatively, the first leg member 20 c and the second leg member30 c may be formed of two or more pieces of material. If the first legmember 20 c and the second leg member 30 c are formed of two or morepieces of material, the materials may differ or the materials may be thesame. For example, if the first leg member 20 c and the second legmember 30 c are formed of two or more pieces of material, one of the legmembers may be formed of steel and the other may be formed of aluminum.In another embodiment, each of the plurality of leg members may beformed of at least two or more materials. For example, a portion of atleast one of the leg members may be steel and another portion of the legmember may be aluminum. In yet another embodiment, the first leg member20 c and the second leg member 30 c may be integrally connected. Theplurality of leg members may be constructed of the same materials or adifferent material. For example, at least one of the plurality of legmembers may be constructed of steel and the other leg members may beconstructed of aluminum.

The joining member 120 c for connecting and/or receiving the first endof the leg members may be formed of the same material as the leg membersor the joining member 120 c may be formed of a different material thanthe leg members. Also, the joining member 120 c may be integrallyconnected to the first end 100 c of the third leg member 40 c or formedseparately from the first end 100 c of the third leg member 40 c. Asshown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the joining member 120 c is integrallyconnected to the first end 100 c of the third leg member 40 c and islooped around and pivotally connected to the arch 130 c formed in thecenter area 140 c thereby integrally joining the first end 60 c of thefirst leg member 20 c and the first end 70 c of the second leg member 30c to define a juncture 150 c. However, the joining member 120 c may befor example, a solid block holding device, or any other device capableof receiving the first ends of the leg members.

The bracing assembly 50 c has a first arm 180 c and a second arm 190 c.The first arm 180 c has a first end 200 c and a second end 210 c. Thesecond arm 190 c has a first end 220 c and a second end 230 c. The firstend 200 c of the first arm 180 c is connected to the first leg member 20c. The first end 220 c of the second arm 190 c is connected to thesecond leg member 30 c. The second end 210 c of the first arm 180 c andthe second end 230 c of the second arm 190 c are connected to the thirdleg member 40 c. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the bracingassembly 50 c is constructed of one continuous piece of material. Thefirst end 200 c of the first arm 180 c forms a loop 232 c around thefirst leg member 20 c and is slidably connected to the first leg member20 c, the first end 220 c of the second arm 190 c forms a loop 234 caround the second leg member 30 c and is slidably connected to thesecond leg member 30 c, the second end 210 c of the first arm 180 c andsecond end 230 c of the second arm 190 c form a contiguous loop 236 caround the third leg member 40 c and the loop 236 c is slidably andpivotally connected to the third leg member 40 c. It will beappreciated, however, that the first arm 180 c and the second arm 190 cmay be connected to the leg members in any manner as long as the legmembers are able to fully collapse.

The bracing assembly 50 c may be a single piece of material or more thanone piece of material. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, thebracing assembly 50 c is a single piece of material wherein the secondend 210 c of the first arm 180 c and the second end 230 c of the secondarm 190 c form a continuous loop around the third leg member 40 cwherein the looped area is slidably and pivotally connected to the thirdleg member 40 c.

The bracing assembly 50 c may be constructed of the same material as theleg members or the bracing assembly 50 c may be constructed of adifferent material than the leg members as long as the material allowsthe bracing assembly 50 c to sustain the floral easel 10 c in the openor erected position.

If the third leg member 40 c is not pivotally connected to at least oneof the first leg member 20 c and the second leg member 30 c or, if thethird leg member 40 c is pivotally connected to at least one of thefirst leg member 20 c and the second leg member 30 c limiting its travelto positions of full erection, full collapse, or intermediate positionsand, if the first leg 20 c and the second leg 20 c are connected tolimit travel to positions from full erection to full collapse; then thebracing assembly 50 c can be eliminated from this embodiment of thefloral easel 10 c.

A stop member 235 c may be connected adjacent and underneath the secondarm 190 c of the bracing assembly 50 c to prevent the bracing assembly160 c from sliding down the second leg member 30 c of the floral easel10 c. The stop member 235 c may be constructed of the same material asthe leg member or of a different material than the leg member. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 3A, the stop member 235 c is a horizontalcross-piece connected adjacent and below the second arm 190 c of thebracing assembly 50 c. However, the stop member 235 c may be connectedto any of the leg members of the floral easel 10 c. It should beunderstood that the stop member 235 c is not required, however, forembodiments in which the bracing assembly 50 c is slidably or pivotallyconnected to at least one leg member, the stop member 235 c aids in theerection and enhances the stability of the floral easel 10 c.

The floral easel 10 c may be employed to hold and/or support a floralobject (not shown) by placing the floral object about the second end 110c of the third leg member 40 c of the floral easel 10 c.

A support member 270 c (FIGS. 3A and 3B) may also be employed to holdand/or support the floral object or non-floral object. The supportmember 270 c may be connected to any area of the floral easel 10 c suchas, for example, the bracing assembly 50 c, the first leg member 20 c,the second leg member 30 c, the third leg member 40 c, or any other areacapable of having the support member 270 c attached thereto. The supportmember 270 c may be any kind of device capable of supporting the floralobject or non-floral object. For example, but not by way of limitation,the support member 270 c may be selected from the group consisting of ahook, a platform, a magnet, wire, adhesive, cohesive, Velcro, a slot, aloop, a tab, a groove, a spring, elastic, a band, ribbon, a clip,combinations thereof, or any other device that is capable of holdingand/or supporting the floral object. The support member 270 c, as shownin FIG. 3, is a hook connected to the second end 110 c of the third legmember 40 c.

The support member 270 c may be constructed of the same material as theleg members or the support member 270 c may be constructed of adifferent material than the leg members as long as the material iscapable of holding and/or supporting the floral object.

The floral easel 10 c may also have a retaining member 280 c forretaining the leg members in the collapsed position. For example, butnot by way of limitation, the retaining member 280 c may be selected ofthe group consisting of elastic, a clip or clips, a spring, a band,shrink material, stretch material, a carton, a tube, a bend in the legmembers, a groove, a slot, a hook, a loop, a wire, a bow, a rope, amagnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, combinationsthereof, or any other device capable of retaining the leg members in thecollapsed position. The retaining member 280 c may also be constructedof the same material as the leg members or the retaining member 280 cmay be constructed of a different material than the leg members as longas the material is capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsedposition.

As shown in FIG. 3, the retaining member 280 c is connected to the thirdleg member 30 c, however, for example, the retaining member 280 c may beattached to any of the leg members, the bracing assembly 160 c, or toany other area of the floral easel 10 c that is suitable for connectingthe retaining member 280 c or may be a separate device unconnected tothe floral easel 10 c.

To move the floral easel 10 c from the open or erected position (shownin FIG. 3A) to the collapsed position (shown in FIG. 3B), the bracingassembly 160 c is rotated about the loop 232 c and the loop 234 c tocause the loop 236 c to slide in an upward direction toward the secondend 110 c of the third leg member 40 c thereby pivoting the third legmember 40 inward toward the area between the first leg member 20 c andthe second leg member 30. The first end 60 c of the first leg member 20c and the first end 80 c of the second leg member 30 c are compressedtogether thereby decreasing the angle formed at the arch 130 c betweenthe center area 140 c of the first leg member 20 c and the second legmember 30 c. The first leg member 20 c and the second leg member 30 cmay then be placed within the retaining member 280 c forming the floraleasel 10 c into a bundle 290 c (shown in FIG. 3B).

Description of FIG. 4

Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, designated generally by the referencenumeral 10 d is a floral easel. The floral easel 10 d has a plurality ofleg members and, in one embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the floral easel 10d has a first leg member 20 d, a second leg member 30 d, and a third legmember 40 d.

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the first leg member 20 d has a first end60 d, a second end 70 d, a first side 72 d and a second side 74 d. Thesecond leg member 30 d has a first end 80 d, a second end 90 d, a firstside 92 d and a second side 94 d. The third leg member 40 d has a firstend 100 d and a second end 110 d. The first end 60 d of the first legmember 20 d, the first end 80 d of the second leg member 30 d, and thefirst end 100 d of the third leg member 40 d may be integrally connectedas shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. The second side 74 d of the first legmember 20 d and the second side 94 d of the second leg member 30 d aregenerally in contact with a substrate 45 d to thereby support and holdthe floral easel 10 d. The substrate 45 d may be any surface such as,for example, a floor, dirt, grass, fiber, plastic, tile, carpet or anysurface capable of supporting the floral easel 10 d thereon. The thirdleg member 40 d extends a distance perpendicular to the first leg member20 d and the second leg member 30 d.

The anchoring material may be formed integrally or non-integrally withthe floral easel 10 d. For example, pins (not shown) may be added to thefirst leg member 20 d and the second leg member 30 d so as to penetratethe soil. The pins may be retractable or fixed.

At least two of the first leg member 20 d, the second leg member 30 d,and the third leg member 40 d may be formed as a single piece ofmaterial that is integrally connected (shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B as onepiece of springy, tubular material) forming a juncture 130 d.Alternatively, the first leg member 20 d, the second leg member 30 d,and the third leg member 40 d may each be formed of different materials.For example, if the first leg member 20 d, the second leg member 30 d,and the third leg member 40 d are formed of different materials, one ofthe leg members may be formed of steel and the others may be formed ofaluminum. In another embodiment, each of the plurality of leg membersmay be formed of at least two or more materials. For example, at least aportion of at least one of the leg members may be steel and anotherportion of the leg member may be aluminum. In yet another embodiment,the first leg member 20 d, the second leg member 30 d, and the third legmember 40 d may be integrally connected. The plurality of leg membersmay be constructed of the same material or a different material. Forexample, at least one of the plurality of leg members may be constructedof steel and the other leg members may be constructed of aluminum.

A brace 135 d may be placed between the first leg member 20 d and thesecond leg member 30 d so as to support the leg members in the openposition.

The floral easel 10 d may be employed to hold and/or support a floralobject (not shown) by placing the floral object about the second end 110d of the third leg member 40 d of the floral easel 10 d.

A support member 270 d (FIGS. 4A and 4B) may also be employed to holdand/or support the floral object or non-floral object; however, anyportion of the floral easel 10 d may hold or support the floral objector non-floral object. The support member 270 d may be connected to anyarea of the floral easel 10 d such as, for example, the first leg member20 d, the second leg member 30 d, the third leg member 40 d, or anyother area capable of having the support member 270 d attached thereto.The support member 270 d may be any kind of device capable of supportingthe floral object. For example, but not by way of limitation, thesupport member 270 d may be selected from the group consisting of ahook, a platform, a magnet, wire, adhesive, cohesive, Velcro, a slot, aloop, a tab, a groove, a spring, elastic, a band, ribbon, a clip,combinations thereof, or any other device that is capable of holdingand/or supporting the floral object. The support member 270 d, as shownin FIG. 4, is a hook connected to the second end 110 d of the third legmember 40 d.

The support member 270 d may be constructed of the same material as theleg members or the support member 270 d may be constructed of adifferent material than the leg members as long as the material iscapable of holding and/or supporting the floral object.

The floral easel 10 d may also have a retaining member 280 d forretaining the leg members in the collapsed position. For example, butnot by way of limitation, the retaining member 280 d may be selected ofthe group consisting of elastic, a clip or clips, a spring, a band,shrink material, stretch material, a carton, a tube, a bend in the legmembers, a groove, a slot, a hook, a loop, a wire, a bow, a rope, amagnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, combinationsthereof, or any other device capable of retaining the leg members in thecollapsed position. The retaining member 280 d may also be constructedof the same material as the leg members or the retaining member 280 dmay be constructed of a different material than the leg members as longas the material is capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsedposition.

As shown in FIG. 4, the retaining member 280 d is connected to the thirdleg member 30 d, however, for example, the retaining member 280 d may beattached to any of the leg members or to any other area of the floraleasel 10 d that is suitable for connecting the retaining member 280 d ormay be a separate device unconnected to the floral easel 10 d.

Further, a display support device (not shown) may be placed on the thirdleg member 40 d for supporting a floral object. For example, the displaysupport device 290 d may be a bar attached perpendicularly to the thirdleg member 40 d so as to support a floral object. However, any displaysupport device 290 d may be used so long as it is able to support afloral object.

To move the floral easel 10 d from the open or erected position (shownin FIG. 4A) to the collapsed position (shown in FIG. 4B), the first legmember 20 d and the second leg member 30 d are compressed togetherthereby decreasing the angle formed at the arch 130 d between the firstleg member 20 d and the second leg member 30 d. The first leg member 20d and the second leg member 30 d are pivoted upwardly toward the thirdleg member 40 d. The first leg member 20 d and the second leg member 30d may then be placed within the retaining member 280 d forming thefloral easel 10 d into a bundle 290 d (shown in FIG. 4B).

Description of FIG. 5

Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, designated generally by the referencenumeral 10 e is a floral easel. The floral easel 10 e has a plurality ofleg members and, in one embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the floral easel 10e has a first leg member 20 e, a second leg member 30 e and a third legmember 40 e. The floral easel 10 e also includes a bracing assembly 50 efor sustaining the floral easel 10 e in an open or erected position,shown in FIG. 5A.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the first leg member 20 e has a first end60 e and a second end 70 e, the second leg member 30 e has a first end80 e and a second end 90 e, and the third leg member 40 e has a firstend 100 e and a second end 110 e. The second end 70 e of the first legmember 20 e, the second end 90 e of the second leg member 30 e, and thesecond end 110 e of the third leg member 40 e are generally in contactwith a substrate 45 e to thereby support and hold the floral easel 10 e.The substrate 45 e may be any surface such as, for example, a floor,dirt, grass, fiber, plastic, or any surface capable of supporting thefloral easel 10 e thereon. As shown in FIG. 5A, a curve 111 e may beformed in the first leg member 20 e between the first end 60 e and thesecond end 70 e for allowing the second end 70 e to engage the substrate45 e. A curve 112 e is formed in the second leg member 30 e between thefirst end 80 e and the second end 90 e for allowing the second end 90 eto engage the substrate 45 e.

At least two of the first leg member 20 e, the second leg member 30 e,and the third leg member 40 e may be formed as a single piece ofmaterial that is integrally connected (shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B as onepiece of tubular material) thereby allowing the first end 60 e and thefirst end 80 e to form a loop 113 e around a portion of the third legmember 40 e. Alternatively, the first leg member 20 e and the second legmember 30 e may be formed of two or more pieces of material. If thefirst leg member 20 e and the second leg member 30 e are formed of twoor more pieces of material, the materials may differ or the materialsmay be the same. For example, if the first leg member 20 e and thesecond leg member 30 e are formed of two or more pieces of material, oneof the leg members may be formed of steel and the other may be formed ofaluminum. In another embodiment, each of the plurality of leg membersmay be formed of at least two or more materials. For example, a portionof at least one of the leg members may be steel and another portion ofthe leg member may be aluminum. In yet another embodiment, the first legmember 20 e, the second leg member 30 e, and the third leg member 40 emay be integrally connected. The plurality of leg members may beconstructed of the same material or a different material. For example,at least one of the plurality of leg members may be constructed of steeland the other leg members may be constructed of aluminum.

The first end 100 e of the third leg member 40 e has an extended portion114 e extending a distance beyond a juncture 116 e of the plurality ofleg members.

The bracing assembly 50 e for sustaining the floral easel 10 e in theopen or erected position has a first arm 180 e and a second arm 190 e.The first arm 180 e has a first end 200 e and a second end 210 e. Thesecond arm 190 e has a first end 220 e and a second end 230 e. The firstend 200 e of the first arm 180 e is connected to the first leg member 20e. The first end 220 e of the second arm 190 e is connected to thesecond leg member 30 e. The second end 210 e of the first arm 180 e andthe second end 230 e of the second arm 190 e are connected to the thirdleg member 40 e. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the bracingassembly 50 e is constructed of one continuous piece of material. Thefirst end 200 e of the first arm 180 e forms a loop 232 e around thefirst leg member 20 e and is slidably connected to the first leg member20 e, the first end 220 e of the second arm 190 e forms a loop 234 earound the second leg member 30 e and is slidably connected to thesecond leg member 30 e, the second end 210 e of the first arm 180 e andsecond end 230 e of the second arm 190 e form a contiguous loop 236 earound the third leg member 40 e and the loop 236 e is slidably andpivotally connected to the third leg member 40 e. When stated that theloop 232 e, the loop 234 e, and the loop 236 e are “slidably connected”,what is meant is that the loops are able to move a distance up and downeach of the respective leg members. It will be appreciated, however,that the first arm 180 e and the second arm 190 e may be connected tothe leg members in any manner as long as the leg members are able tocollapse. It will also be appreciated that the loops may either beslidably connected or connected in a fixed manner to each respective legmember.

The bracing assembly 50 e may be constructed of the same material as theleg members or the bracing assembly 50 e may be constructed of adifferent material than the leg members as long as the material allowsthe bracing assembly 50 e to sustain the floral easel 10 e in the openor erect position.

If the third leg 40 e is not pivotally connected to at least one of thefirst leg 20 e and the second leg 30 e or, if the third leg 40 e ispivotally connected to at least one of the first leg 20 e and the secondleg 30 e limiting its travel to positions of full erection, fullcollapse, or intermediate positions, and if the first leg 20 e and thesecond leg 30 e are connected to limit travel to positions from fullerection to full collapse, then the bracing assembly 50 e can beeliminated from this embodiment of the floral easel 10 e.

A stop member 235 e is connected adjacent and underneath the second arm190 e of the bracing assembly 50 e to prevent the bracing assembly 50 efrom sliding down the second leg member 30 e of the floral easel 10 e.The stop member 235 e may be constructed of the same material as the legmembers or of a different material than the leg members. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 5A, the stop member 235 e is a horizontalcross-piece connected adjacent and below the second arm 190 e of thebracing assembly 50 e. However, the stop member 235 e may be connectedto either the first leg member 20 e or the second leg member 30 e of thefloral easel 10 e.

It should be understood that the stop member 235 e is not required,however, for embodiments in which the bracing assembly 50 e is slidablyor pivotally connected to at least one leg member, the stop member 235 eaids in the erection and enhances the stability of the floral easel 10e.

A support member 270 e (FIGS. 5A and 5B) may also be employed to holdand/or support the floral object or non-floral object, however, anyportion of the floral easel 10 e may hold or support the floral objector non-floral object, such as, for example, the support member 270 e maybe connected to any area of the floral easel 10 e such as, for example,the first leg member 20 e, the second leg member 30 e, the third legmember 40 e, or any other area capable of having the support member 270e attached thereto. The support member 270 e may be any kind of devicecapable of supporting the floral object, such as, for example thebracing assembly 50 e or any other area of the floral easel 10 e capableof supporting the floral object or non-floral object. For example, butnot by way of limitation, the support member 270 e may be selected fromthe group consisting of a hook, a platform, a magnet, wire, adhesive,cohesive, Velcro, a slot, a loop, a tab, a groove, a spring, elastic, aband, ribbon, a clip, combinations thereof, or any other device that iscapable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. The supportmember 270 e, as shown in FIG. 5, is a hook connected to the first end100 e of the third leg member 40 e.

The support member 270 e may be constructed of the same material as theleg members or the support member 270 e may be constructed of adifferent material than the leg members as long as the material iscapable of holding and/or supporting the floral object.

The floral easel 10 e may also have a retaining member 280 e forretaining the leg members in the collapsed position. For example, butnot by way of limitation, the retaining member 280 e may be selected ofthe group consisting of elastic, a clip or clips, a spring, a band,shrink material, stretch material, a carton, a tube, a bend in the legmembers, a groove, a slot, a loop, a hook, a wire, a bow, a rope, amagnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, combinationsthereof, or any other device capable of retaining the leg members in thecollapsed position. The retaining member 280 e may also be constructedof the same material as the leg members or the retaining member 280 emay be constructed from a different material than the leg members aslong as the material is capable of retaining the leg members in thecollapsed position.

As shown in FIG. 5, the retaining member 280 e is connected to the thirdleg member 40 e, however, for example, the retaining member 280 e may beattached to any of the leg members, the bracing assembly 160 e, or toany other area of the floral easel 10 e that is suitable for connectingthe retaining member 280 e or may be a separate device unconnected tothe floral easel 10 e.

To move the floral easel 10 e from the open or erected position (shownin FIG. 5A) to the collapsed position (shown in FIG. 5B), the bracingassembly 50 e is rotated about the loop 232 e and the loop 234 e tocause the loop 236 e to slide in an upward direction toward the firstend 100 e of the third leg member 40 e thereby pivoting the first legmember 20 e and the second leg member 30 e upward toward the third legmember 40 e causing the third leg member 30 e to be placed between thefirst leg member 20 e and the second leg member 30 e. The first end 60 eand the first end 80 e may then be inserted into the retaining member280 e forming the leg members into a bundle 290 e (shown in FIG. 5B).

Description of FIG. 6

Referring now to FIGS. 6A and 6B, designated generally by the referencenumeral 10 f is a floral easel. The floral easel 10 f has a plurality ofleg members and, in one embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the floral easel 10f has a first leg member 20 f and a second leg member 30 f.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the first leg member 20 f has a first end60 f, a second end 70 f, a first side 100 f and a second side 110 f. Thesecond leg member 30 f has a first end 80 f, a second end 90 f, a firstside 120 f and a second side 130 f. The first end 60 f of the first legmember 20 f and the first end 80 f of the second leg member 30 f areintegrally connected forming an arch 140 f where the first end 60 f andfirst end 80 f are joined. The second side 110 f of the first leg member20 f is generally in contact with a substrate 45 f to thereby supportand hold the floral easel 10 f. The substrate 45 f may be any surfacesuch as, for example, a floor, dirt, grass, fiber, plastic, or anysurface capable of supporting the floral easel 10 f thereon.

The first leg member 20 f and the second leg member 30 f may be formedas a single piece of material that is integrally connected (shown inFIGS. 6A and 6B as one piece of springy material). Alternatively, thefirst leg member 20 f and the second leg member 30 f may be formed oftwo or more pieces of material. If the first leg member 20 f and thesecond leg member 30 f are formed of two or more pieces of material, thematerials may differ or the materials may be the same. For example, ifthe first leg member 20 f and the second leg member 30 f are formed oftwo or more pieces of material, one of the leg members may be formed ofsteel and the other may be formed of aluminum. In another embodiment,each of the plurality of leg members may be formed of at least two ormore materials. For example, a portion of at least one of the legmembers may be steel and another portion of the leg member may bealuminum. In yet another embodiment, the first leg member 20 f and thesecond leg member 30 f may be integrally connected. The plurality of legmembers may be constructed of the same material or a different material.For example, at least one of the plurality of leg members may beconstructed of steel and the other leg member may be constructed ofaluminum.

The floral easel 10 f may be employed to hold and/or support a floralobject (not shown) by placing the floral object about the second end 90h of the second leg member 30 f of the floral easel 10 f.

A support member 270 f (FIGS. 6A and 6B) may also be employed to holdand/or support the floral object or non-floral object; however, anyportion of the floral easel 10 f may hold or support the floral objector the non-floral object. The support member 270 f may be connected toany area of the floral easel 10 f such as, for example, the first legmember 20 f, the second leg member 30 f or any other area capable ofhaving the support member 270 f attached thereto. The support member 270f may be any kind of device capable of supporting the floral object. Forexample, but not by way of limitation, the support member 270 f may beselected from the group consisting of a hook, a platform, a magnet,wire, adhesive, cohesive, Velcro, a slot, a loop, a tab, a groove, aspring, elastic, a band, ribbon, a clip, combinations thereof, or anyother device that is capable of holding and/or supporting the floralobject. The support member 270 f, as shown in FIG. 6, is a hookconnected to the second end 90 f of the second leg member 30 f.

The support member 270 f may be constructed of the same material as theleg members or the support member 270 f may be constructed of adifferent material than the leg members as long as the material iscapable of holding and/or supporting the floral object.

The floral easel 10 f may also have a retaining member 280 f forretaining the leg members in the collapsed position. For example, butnot by way of limitation, the retaining member 280 f may be selected ofthe group consisting of elastic, a clip or clips, a spring, a band,shrink material, stretch material, a carton, a tube, a bend in the legmembers, a groove, a slot, a hook, a loop, a wire, a bow, a rope, amagnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, combinationsthereof, or any other device capable of retaining the leg members in thecollapsed position. The retaining 280 f may also be constructed of thesame material as the leg members or the retaining member 280 f may beconstructed of a different material than the leg members as long as thematerial is capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsedposition.

As shown in FIG. 6, the retaining member 280 f is connected to thesecond leg member 30 f; however, for example, the retaining member 280 fmay be attached to either the first leg member 20 f or the second legmember 20 f or to any other area of the floral easel 10 f that issuitable for connecting the retaining member 280 f or may be a separatedevice unconnected to the floral easel 10 f.

To move the floral easel 10 f from the open or erected position (shownin FIG. 6A) to the collapsed position (shown in FIG. 6B), the second legmember 30 f is rotated counter-clockwise about the arch 140 f formedbetween the first leg member 20 f and the second leg member 30 f. Thesecond side 110 f of the first leg member 20 f and the second side 130 fof the second leg member 30 f are compressed together thereby invertingthe arch 140 f between the first leg member 20 f and the second legmember 30 f. The second end 70 f and the second end 90 f may then beinserted into the retaining member 280 f forming the leg members into abundle 290 f (shown in FIG. 6B).

Description of FIG. 7

Referring now to FIGS. 7A and 7B, designated generally by the referencenumeral 10 g is a floral easel. The floral easel 10 g has a plurality ofleg members and, in one embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the floral easel 10g has a first leg member 20 g and a second leg member 30 g.

As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the first leg member 20 g has a first end60 g, a second end 70 g, a first side 100 g and a second side 110 g. Thesecond leg member 30 g has a first end 80 g, a second end 90 g, a firstside 120 g and a second side 130 g. The first end 60 g of the first legmember 20 g and the first end 80 g of the second leg member 30 g areintegrally connected forming an arch 140 g where the first end 60 g andfirst end 80 g are joined. The second side 110 g of the first leg member20 g is generally in contact with a substrate 45 g to thereby supportand hold the floral easel 10 g. The substrate 45 g may be any surfacesuch as, for example, a floor, dirt, grass, fiber, plastic, or anysurface capable of supporting the floral easel 10 g thereon.

The first leg member 20 g and the second leg member 30 g may be formedas a single piece of material that is integrally connected (shown inFIGS. 7A and 7B as one piece of elastic or resilient material).Alternatively, the first leg member 20 g and the second leg member 30 gmay be formed of two or more pieces of material. If the first leg member20 g and the second leg member 30 g are formed of two or more pieces ofmaterial, the materials may differ or the materials may be the same. Forexample, if the first leg member 20 g and the second leg member 30 g areformed of two or more pieces of material, one of the leg members may beformed of steel and the other may be formed of aluminum. In anotherembodiment, each of the plurality of leg members may be formed of atleast two or more materials. For example, at least a portion of at leastone of the leg members may be steel and another portion of the legmember may be aluminum. In yet another embodiment, the first leg member20 g and the second leg member 30 g may be integrally connected. Theplurality of leg members may be constructed of the same material or adifferent material. For example, at least one of the plurality of legmembers may be constructed of steel and the other leg members may beconstructed of aluminum.

The floral easel 10 g may be employed to hold and/or support a floralobject (not shown) by placing the floral object about the second end 90g of the second leg member 30 g of the floral easel 10 g.

A support member 270 g (FIGS. 7A and 7B) may also be employed to holdand/or support the floral object; however, any portion of the floraleasel 10 g may hold or support the floral object or non-floral object.The support member 270 g may be connected to any area of the floraleasel 10 g such as, for example, the first leg member 20 g, the secondleg member 30 g, or any other area capable of having the support member270 g attached thereto. The support member 270 g may be any kind ofdevice capable of supporting the floral object. For example, but not byway of limitation, the support member 270 g may be selected from thegroup consisting of a hook, a platform, a magnet, wire, adhesive,cohesive, Velcro, a slot, a loop, a tab, a groove, a spring, elastic, aband, ribbon, a clip, combinations thereof, or any other device that iscapable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. The supportmember 270 g, as shown in FIG. 7, is a hook connected to the second end90 g of the second leg member 30 g.

The support member 270 g may be constructed of the same material as theleg members or the support member 270 g may be constructed of adifferent material than the leg members as long as the material iscapable of holding and/or supporting the floral object.

The floral easel 10 g may also have a retaining member 280 g forretaining the leg members in the collapsed position. For example, butnot by way of limitation, the retaining member 280 g may be selected ofthe group consisting of elastic, a clip or clips, a spring, a band,shrink material, stretch material, a carton, a tube, a bend in the legmembers, a groove, a slot, a hook, a loop, a wire, a bow, a rope, amagnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, combinationsthereof, or any other device capable of retaining the leg members in thecollapsed position. The retaining member 280 g may also be constructedof the same material as the leg members or the retaining member 280 gmay be constructed of a different material than the leg members as longas the material is capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsedposition.

As shown in FIG. 7, the retaining member 280 g is connected to the firstleg member 20 g, however, for example, the retaining member 280 g may beattached to either the first leg member 20 g or the second leg member 20g or to any other area of the floral easel 10 g that is suitable forconnecting the retaining member 280 g or may be a separate deviceunconnected to the floral easel 10 g.

To move the floral easel 10 g from the open or erected position (shownin FIG. 7A) to the collapsed position (shown in FIG. 7B), the second legmember 30 g is rotated clockwise about the arch 140 g formed between thefirst leg member 20 g and the second leg member 30 g. The first side 100g of the first leg member 20 g and the first side 120 g of the secondleg member 30 g are compressed together thereby decreasing the angleformed at the arch 140 g between the first leg member 20 g and thesecond leg member 30 g. The second end 70 g and the second end 90 g maythen be inserted into the retaining member 280 g forming the leg membersinto a bundle 290 g (shown in FIG. 7B).

Description of FIG. 8

Referring now to FIGS. 8A and 8B, designated generally by the referencenumeral 10 h, is a floral. The floral easel 10 h has a plurality of legmembers and, in one embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the floral easel 10 hhas a first leg member 20 h, a second leg member 30 h and a third legmember 40 h. The floral easel 10 h also includes a bracing assembly 50 hfor sustaining the floral easel 10 h in an open or erected positionshown in FIG. 8A.

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the first leg member 20 h has a first end60 h and a second end 70 h, the second leg member 30 h has a first end80 h and a second end 90 h, and the third leg member 40 h has a firstend 100 h and a second end 110 h. The first end 60 h of the first legmember 20 h, the first end 80 h of the second leg member 30 h, and thefirst end 100 h of the third leg member 40 h are associated at a joiningmember 120 h. The second end 70 h of the first leg member 20 h, thesecond end 90 h of the second leg member 30 h, and the second end 110 hof the third leg member 40 h are generally in contact with a substrate45 h to thereby support and hold the floral easel 10 h. The substrate 45h may be any surface such as, for example, a floor, dirt, grass, fiber,plastic, tile, carpet, combinations thereof, or any surface capable ofsupporting the floral easel 10 h thereon.

At least two of the first leg member 20 h, the second leg member 30 h,and the third leg member 40 h may be formed as a single piece ofmaterial that is integrally connected (shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B as onepiece of tubular material forming an arch 130 h having a center area 140h). Alternatively, at least two of the first leg member 20 h, the secondleg member 30 h, and the third leg member 40 h may be formed of two ormore pieces of material. If the leg members are formed of two or morepieces of material, the materials may differ or the materials may be thesame. For example, if the first leg member 20 h and the second legmember 30 h are formed of two or more pieces of material, one of the legmembers may be formed of steel and the other may be formed of aluminum.In another embodiment, each of the plurality of leg members may beformed of at least two or more materials. For example, a portion of atleast one of the leg members may be steel and another portion of the legmember may be aluminum. In yet another embodiment, the first leg member20 h, the second leg member 30 h, and the third leg member 40 h may beintegrally connected. The plurality of leg members may be constructed ofthe same material or of a different material. For example, at least oneof the plurality of leg members may be constructed of steel and theother leg members may be constructed of aluminum.

The joining member 120 h for connecting and/or receiving the first endof the leg members may be formed of the same material as the leg membersor the joining member 120 h may be formed of a different material thanthe leg members. Also, the joining member 120 h may be integrallyconnected to the first end 100 h of the third leg member 40 h or formedseparately from the first end 100 h of the third leg member 40 h. Asshown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the joining member 120 h is integrallyconnected to the first end 100 h of the third leg member 40 h and iscrimped around and pivotally connected to the arch 130 h formed in thecenter area 140 h thereby integrally joining the first end 60 h of thefirst leg member 20 h and the first end 70 h of the second leg member 30h to define an apex 150 h. However, the joining member 120 h may be, forexample, a solid block holding device, or any other device capable ofreceiving the first ends of the leg members. Also, the first end 100 hof the third leg 40 h need not be crimped around the arch 130 h. In analternative embodiment, the joining member 120 h and the arch 130 h areconnected using materials that permit at least one of erecting andcollapsing the floral easel 10 h. Also, the first end 100 h of the thirdleg 40 h need not be pivotally connected to the arch 130 h. In analternative embodiment, the first end 100 h may be flexibly connected tothe arch 130 h.

The bracing assembly 50 h for sustaining the floral easel 10 h in theopen or erected position has a first arm 160 h, a second arm 170 h, anda third arm 180 h. The first arm 160 h has a first end 200 h and asecond end 210 h. The second arm 170 h has a first end 220 h and asecond end 230 h. The third arm 180 h has a first end 240 h and a secondend 250 h. The first end 200 b of the first arm 160 h is connected tothe first leg member 20 h. The first end 220 h of the second arm 170 his connected to the second leg member 30 h. The first end 240 h of thethird arm 180 h is connected to the third leg member 40 h. The secondend 210 h of the first arm 160 h, the second end 230 h of the second arm170 h, and the second end 250 h of the third arm 180 h are connected toan arm support member 255 h.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the bracing assembly 50 h isconstructed of more than one piece of material, however it is to beunderstood that the bracing assembly 50 h may be constructed of oneintegrally connected piece of material. Alternatively, the bracingassembly 50 h may be formed non-integrally from the leg members. In theembodiment shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the first end 200 h of the firstarm 160 h forms a loop 232 h around the first leg member 20 h and isslidably connected to the first leg member 20 h and the second end 210 hof the first arm 160 h is connected to the arm support member 255 h. Thefirst end 220 h of the second arm 170 h forms a loop 234 h around thesecond leg member 30 h and is slidably connected to the second legmember 30 h and the second end 230 h of the second arm 170 h isconnected to the arm support member 255 h. The first end 240 h of thethird arm 180 h forms a loop 236 h around the third leg member 40 h andis slidably connected to the third leg member 40 h and the second end250 h of the third arm 180 h is connected to the arm support member 255h. It will be appreciated, however, that the first arm 160 h, the secondarm 170 h, and the third arm 180 h may be connected to the leg membersin any manner as long as the leg members are able to collapse. It willalso be appreciated that the loops may either be slidably connected orconnected in a fixed manner to each respective leg member.

The bracing assembly 50 h may be constructed of the same material as theleg members or the bracing assembly 50 h may be constructed of adifferent material than the leg members as long as the material allowsthe bracing assembly 50 h to sustain the floral easel 10 h in the openor erected position.

The floral easel 10 h may be employed to hold and/or support a floralobject (not shown) by placing the floral object about the first end 100h of the third leg member 40 h of the floral easel 10 h.

A support member 270 h (FIGS. 8A and 8B) may also be employed to holdand/or support the floral object or non-floral object, however, anyportion of the floral easel 10 h may hold or support the floral objector non-floral object, such as, for example, the bracing assembly 50 h,the joining member 120 h or any other area of the floral easel 10 hcapable of supporting the floral object or non-floral object. Thesupport member 270 h may be connected to any area of the floral easel 10h such as, for example, the first ends of the plurality of leg members,the bracing assembly 50 h or to any other area of the floral easel 10 hto which the support member 270 h may be attached. The support member270 h may be any kind of device capable of supporting the floral object.For example, but not by way of limitation, the support member 270 h maybe selected from the group consisting of a hook, a platform, a magnet,wire, adhesive, cohesive, Velcro, a slot, a loop, a tab, a groove, aspring, elastic, a band, ribbon, a clip, combinations thereof, or anyother device that is capable of holding and/or supporting the floralobject. The support member 270 h, as shown in FIG. 8, is a hookconnected to the first end 100 h of the third leg member 40 h.

The support member 270 h may be constructed of the same material as theleg members or the support member 270 h may be constructed of adifferent material than the leg members as long as the material iscapable of holding and/or supporting the floral object.

The floral easel 10 h may also have a retaining member 280 h forretaining the leg members in the collapsed position. For example, butnot by way of limitation, the retaining member 280 h may be selected ofthe group consisting of elastic, a clip or clips, a spring, a band,shrink material, stretch material, the joining member 120 h, a carton, atube, a bend in the leg members, a groove, a slot, a hook, a loop, awire, a bow, a rope, a magnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable,adhesive, combinations thereof, or any other device capable of retainingthe leg members in the collapsed position. The retaining member 280 hmay also be constructed of the same material as the leg members or theretaining member 280 h may be constructed from a different material thanthe leg members as long as the material is capable of retaining the legmembers in the collapsed position. Alternatively, the retaining member280 h may be eliminated from the floral easel 10 h and the plurality ofleg members may be retained in the collapsed position by the joiningmember 120 h.

As shown in FIG. 8, the retaining member 280 h is connected to the firstleg member 20 h, however, for example, the retaining member 280 h may beattached to any of the leg members, the bracing assembly 50 h or to anyother area of the floral easel 10 h that is suitable for connecting theretaining member 280 h or may be a separate device unconnected to thefloral easel 10 h.

To move the floral easel 10 h from the open or erect position (shown inFIG. 8A) to the collapsed position (shown in FIG. 8B), the first end 200h of the first arm 160 h (the loop 232 h), the first end 220 h of thesecond arm 170 h (the loop 234 h), and the first end 240 h of the thirdarm 180 h (the loop 236 h) are moved toward the first end of eachrespective leg member so as to allow the leg members to collapse inward.The second end 70 h, the second end 90 h, and the second end 110 h maythen be inserted into the retaining member 280 h forming the leg membersinto a bundle 290 h (shown in FIG. 8B).

In an alternate embodiment, the loop 232 h, the loop 234 h, and the loop236 h may be fixed to each respective leg member. To move the floraleasel 10 h from the open or erect position to the closed position, thearm support member 255 h may be moved in an upward direction so as toallow the first leg member 20 h, the second leg member 30 h, and thethird leg member 40 h to move from the open or erect position to thecollapsed position so that the second end 70 h, the second end 90 h, andthe second end 110 h may be inserted into the retaining member 280 hforming the leg members into the bundle 290 h (shown in FIG. 8D).

In another embodiment of the presently disclosed and claimed inventiveconcept(s) shown in FIGS. 8C and 8D, a portion of the first leg member20 h, the second leg member 30 h, and the third leg member 40 h may bebent to prevent each of the loops from moving toward the second end ofeach respective leg member. That is, the first leg member 20 h has abend 300 h to prevent the loop 232 h from moving toward the second end70 h of the first leg member 20 h. The second leg member 30 h has a bend310 h to prevent the loop 234 h from moving toward the second end 90 hof the second leg member 30 h. The third leg member 40 h has a bend 320h to prevent the loop 236 h from moving toward the second end 110 h ofthe third leg member 40 h.

To move the floral easel 10 h from the open or erect position (shown inFIG. 8C) to the collapsed position (shown in FIG. 8D), the loop 232 h,the loop 234 h, and the loop 236 h are moved toward the first end ofeach respective leg member so as to allow the leg members to collapseinward. The second end 70 h, the second end 90 h, and the second end 110h may then be inserted into the retaining member 280 h forming the legmembers into a bundle 290 h (shown in FIG. 8D).

In an alternate embodiment, the loop 232 h, the loop 234 h, and the loop236 h may be fixed to each respective leg member. To move the floraleasel 10 h from the open or erect position to the closed position, thearm support member 255 h may be moved in an upward direction so as toallow the first leg member 20 h, the second leg member 30 h, and thethird leg member 40 h to move from the open or erect position to thecollapsed position so that the second end 70 h, the second end 90 h, andthe second end 110 h may be inserted into the retaining member 280 hforming the leg members into the bundle 290 h (shown in FIG. 8D).

Description of FIG. 9

Referring now to FIGS. 9A and 9B, designated generally by the referencenumeral 10 i is a floral easel. The floral easel 10 i has a plurality ofleg members and, in one embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the floral easel 10i has a first leg member 20 i and a second leg member 30 i.

As shown in FIGS. 9A and B, the first leg member 20 i has a first end 60i, a second end 70 i, a first side 100 i and a second side 110 i. Thesecond leg member 30 i has a first end 80 i, a second end 90 i, a firstside 120 i and a second side 130 i. The first end 60 i of the first legmember 20 i and the first end 80 i of the second leg member 30 i areintegrally connected forming an acute angle 140 i where the first end 60i and first end 80 i are joined. The second side 110 i of the first legmember 20 i is generally in contact with a substrate 45 i to therebysupport and hold the floral easel 10 i. The substrate 45 i may be anysurface such as, for example, a floor, dirt, grass, fiber, plastic, orany surface capable of supporting the floral easel 10 i thereon.

The first leg member 20 i and the second leg member 30 i may be formedas a single piece of material that is integrally connected (shown inFIGS. 9A and 9B as one piece of springy material). Alternatively, thefirst leg member 20 i and the second leg member 30 i may be formed oftwo or more pieces of material. If the first leg member 20 i and thesecond leg member 30 i are formed of two or more pieces of material, thematerials may differ or the materials may be the same. For example, ifthe first leg member 20 i and the second leg member 30 i are formed oftwo or more pieces of material, one of the leg members may be formed ofsteel and the other may be formed of aluminum. In another embodiment,each of the plurality of leg members may be formed of at least two ormore materials. For example, a portion of at least one of the legmembers may be steel and another portion of the leg member may bealuminum. In yet another embodiment, the first leg member 20 i and thesecond leg member 30 i may be integrally connected. The plurality of legmembers may be constructed of the same material of a different material.For example, at least one of the plurality of leg members may beconstructed of steel and the other leg member may be constructed ofaluminum. A support member 270 i (FIGS. 9A and 9B) may also be employedto hold and/or support the floral object or non-floral object; however,any portion of the floral easel 10 i may hold or support the floralobject or the non-floral object. The support member 270 i may beconnected to any area of the floral easel 10 i such as, for example, thefirst leg member 20 i, the second leg member 30 i or any other areacapable of having the support member 270 i attached thereto. The supportmember 270 i may be any kind of device capable of supporting the floralobject. For example, but not by way of limitation, the support member270 i may be selected from the group consisting of a hook, a platform, amagnet, wire, adhesive, cohesive, Velcro, a slot, a loop, a tab, agroove, a spring, elastic, a band, ribbon, a clip, combinations thereof,or any other device that is capable of holding and/or supporting thefloral object. The support member 270 i, as shown in FIG. 9, is a hookconnected to the second end 90 i of the second leg member 30 i.

The support member 270 i may be constructed of the same material as theleg members or the support member 270 i may be constructed of adifferent material than the leg members as long as the material iscapable of holding and/or supporting the floral object.

The floral easel 10 i may also have a retaining member 280 i forretaining the leg members in the collapsed position. For example, butnot by way of limitation, the retaining member 280 i may be selected ofthe group consisting of elastic, a clip or clips, a spring, a band,shrink material, stretch material, a carton, a tube, a bend in the legmembers, a groove, a slot, a hook, a loop, a wire, a bow, a rope, amagnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, combinationsthereof, or any other device capable of retaining the leg members in thecollapsed position. The retaining 280 i may also be constructed of thesame material as the leg members or the retaining member 280 i may beconstructed of a different material than the leg members as long as thematerial is capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsedposition.

As shown in FIG. 9, the retaining member 280 i is connected to thesecond leg member 30 i, however, for example, the retaining member 280 imay be attached to either the first leg member 20 i or the second legmember 20 i or to any other area of the floral easel 10 i that issuitable for connecting the retaining member 280 i or may be a separatedevice unconnected to the floral easel 10 i.

To move the floral easel 10 i from the open or erected position (shownin FIG. 9A) to the collapsed position (shown in FIG. 9B), the second legmember 30 i is rotated either clockwise or counter-clockwise about theacute angle 140 i formed between the first leg member 20 i and thesecond leg member 30 i. By rotating the floral easel 10 i clockwiseabout the acute angle 140 i, the first side 100 i of the first legmember 20 i and the first side 120 i of the second leg member 30 i arecompressed together thereby decreasing the angle formed at the acuteangle 140 i between the first leg member 20 i and the second leg member30 i. The second end 70 i and the second end 90 i may then be insertedinto the retaining member 280 i forming the leg members into a bundle290 i (shown in FIG. 9B). By rotating the floral easel 10 i clockwiseabout the acute angle 140 i, the second side 110 i of the first legmember 20 i and the second side 130 i of the second leg member 30 i arecompressed together thereby inverting the acute angle 140 i between thefirst leg member 20 i and the second leg member 30 i. The second end 70i and the second end 90 i may then be inserted into the retaining member280 i forming the leg members into a bundle 290 i (shown in FIG. 9B orNOT SHOWN—need to decide).

Description of FIG. 10

Referring now to FIGS. 10A and 10B, designated generally by thereference numeral 10 j is a floral easel. The floral easel 10 j has aplurality of leg members and, in one embodiment shown in FIG. 10, thefloral easel 10 j has a first leg member 20 j and a second leg member 30j.

As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the first leg member 20 j has a first end60 j, a second end 70 j, a first side 100 j and a second side 110 j. Thefirst leg member 20 j has a plurality of arches 22 j formed therein. Thearches 22 j may be rigid or they may be collapsible. The second legmember 30 j has a first end 80 j, a second end 90 j, a first side 120 jand a second side 130 j. The first end 60 j of the first leg member 20 jand the first end 80 j of the second leg member 30 j are integrallyconnected forming an acute angle 140 j where the first end 60 j andfirst end 80 j are joined. The second side 110 j of the first leg member20 j is generally in contact with a substrate 45 j to thereby supportand hold the floral easel 10 j. The substrate 45 j may be any surfacesuch as, for example, a floor, dirt, grass, fiber, plastic, or anysurface capable of supporting the floral easel 10 j thereon.

The first leg member 20 j and the second leg member 30 j may be formedas a single piece of material that is integrally connected (shown inFIGS. 10A and 10B as one piece of elastic or resilient material).Alternatively, the first leg member 20 j and the second leg member 30 jmay be formed of two or more pieces of material. If the first leg member20 j and the second leg member 30 j are formed of two or more pieces ofmaterial, the materials may differ or the materials may be the same. Forexample, if the first leg member 20 j and the second leg member 30 j areformed of two or more pieces of material, one of the leg members may beformed of steel and the other may be formed of aluminum. In anotherembodiment, each of the plurality of leg members may be formed of atleast two or more materials. For example, at least a portion of at leastone of the leg members may be steel and another portion of the legmember may be aluminum. In yet another embodiment, the first leg member20 j and the second leg member 30 j may be integrally connected. Theplurality of leg members may be constructed of the same material or adifferent material. For example, at least one of the plurality of legmembers may be constructed of steel and the other leg members may beconstructed of aluminum.

The floral easel 10 j may be employed to hold and/or support a floralobject (not shown) by placing the floral object about the second end 90j of the second leg member 30 j of the floral easel 10 j.

A support member 270 j (FIGS. 10A and 10B) may also be employed to holdand/or support the floral object; however any portion of the floraleasel 10 j may hold or support the floral object or non-floral object.The support member 270 j may be connected to any area of the floraleasel 10 j such as, for example, the first leg member 20 j, the secondleg member 30 j, or any other area capable of having the support member270 j attached thereto. The support member 270 j may be any kind ofdevice capable of supporting the floral object. For example, but not byway of limitation, the support member 270 j may be selected from thegroup consisting of a hook, a platform, a magnet, wire, adhesive,cohesive, Velcro, a slot, a loop, a tab, a groove, a spring, elastic, aband, ribbon, a clip, combinations thereof, or any other device that iscapable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. The supportmember 270 j, as shown in FIG. 10B, is a hook connected to the secondend 90 j of the second leg member 30 j.

The support member 270 j may be constructed of the same material as theleg members or the support member 270 j may be constructed of adifferent material than the leg members as long as the material iscapable of holding and/or supporting the floral object.

The floral easel 10 j may also have a retaining member 280 j forretaining the leg members in the collapsed position. For example, butnot by way of limitation, the retaining member 280 j may be selected ofthe group consisting of elastic, a clip or clips, a spring, a band,shrink material, stretch material, a carton, a tube, a bend in the legmembers, a groove, a slot, a hook, a loop, a wire, a bow, a rope, amagnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, combinationsthereof, or any other device capable of retaining the leg members in thecollapsed position. The retaining member 280 j may also be constructedof the same material as the leg members or the retaining member 280 jmay be constructed of a different material than the leg members as longas the material is capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsedposition.

As shown in FIG. 10B, the retaining member 280 j is connected to thefirst leg member 20 j, however, for example, the retaining member 280 jmay be attached to either the first leg member 20 j or the second legmember 20 j or to any other area of the floral easel 10 j that issuitable for connecting the retaining member 280 j or may be a separatedevice unconnected to the floral easel 10 j.

To move the floral easel 10 j from the open or erected position (shownin FIG. 10A) to the collapsed position (shown in FIG. 10B), the secondleg member 30 j is rotated clockwise about the acute angle 140 j formedbetween the first leg member 20 j and the second leg member 30 j. Thefirst side 100 j of the first leg member 20 j and the first side 120 jof the second leg member 30 j are compressed together thereby decreasingthe angle formed at the acute angle 140 j between the first leg member20 j and the second leg member 30 j. The second end 70 j and the secondend 90 j may then be inserted into the retaining member 280 j formingthe leg members into a bundle 290 j (shown in FIG. 10B).

Description of FIG. 11

Referring now to FIGS. 11A-11D, designated generally by the referencenumeral 10 k is a floral easel. The floral easel 10 k has a plurality ofleg members and, in one embodiment shown in FIGS. 11A-11B, the floraleasel 10 k has a first leg member 20 k, a second leg member 30 k, and athird leg member 40 k.

As shown in FIGS. 11A-11B, the first leg member 20 k has a first end 60k and a second end 70 k. The second leg member 30 k has a first end 80 kand a second end 90 k. The third leg member 40 k has a first end 100 kand a second end 110 k. The first end 60 k of the first leg member 20 k,the first end 80 k of the second leg member 30 k, and the first end 100k of the third leg member 40 k are capable of being placed into ajoining member 120 k having a plurality of openings therein forpositioning the leg members in the open or closed position. In theembodiment shown in FIGS. 11A-11C, the joining member 120 k has a topportion 121 k and a bottom portion 122 k. The bottom portion has a firstexterior opening 123 k, a second exterior opening 124 k, and a thirdexterior opening 125 k therein for placing the leg members in the openposition (FIG. 11C). The joining member 120 k also has a first interioropening 126 k, a second interior opening 127 k, and a third interioropening 128 k for placing the leg members in the closed position (FIG.11C). The joining member 120 k may be any shape so as to support the legmembers such as, for example, a block, an oval, a circle, a triangle, apentagon, a hexagon, or any other shape capable of receiving andsupporting the plurality of leg members. Further, the joining member 120k may be constructed of any material capable of receiving and supportingthe plurality of leg members such as, for example, wood, plastic,rubber, metal, or any other material capable of receiving and supportingthe plurality of leg members. The second end 70 k of the first legmember 20 k, the second end 90 k of the second leg member 30 k, and thesecond end 110 k of the third leg member 40 k are generally in contactwith a substrate 45 k (shown in FIG. 11A) to thereby support and holdthe floral easel 10 k. The substrate 45 k may be any surface such as,for example, a floor, dirt, grass, fiber, plastic, tile, carpet,combinations thereof, or any surface capable of supporting the floraleasel 10 k thereon.

The first leg member 20 k and the second leg member 30 k may be formedof two or more pieces of material. If the first leg member 20 k and thesecond leg member 30 k are formed of two or more pieces of material, thematerials may differ or the materials may be the same. For example, ifthe first leg member 20 k and the second leg member 30 k are formed oftwo or more pieces of material, one of the leg members may be formed ofsteel and the other may be formed of aluminum. In another embodiment,each of the plurality of leg members may be formed of at least two ormore materials. For example, a portion of at least one of the legmembers may be steel and another portion of the leg member may bealuminum. In yet another embodiment, the first leg member 20 k, thesecond leg member 30 k, and the third leg member 30 k may be integrallyconnected. The plurality of leg members may be constructed of the samematerial or a different material. For example, at least one of theplurality of leg members may be constructed of steel and the other legmembers may be constructed of aluminum.

A support member 270 k (FIGS. 11A-11C) may also be employed to holdand/or support the floral object 260 k (or non-floral object), however,any portion of the floral easel 10 k may hold or support the floralobject 260 k or non-floral object, such as, for example, the joiningmember 120 k or any other area of the floral easel 10 k capable ofsupporting the floral object 260 k or a non-floral object. The supportmember 270 k may be connected to any area of the floral easel 10 k suchas, for example, the joining member 120 k or the leg members. Shown inFIGS. 11A-11C, the support member 270 k is connected to the top portion121 of the joining member 120 k. However, the support member 270 k maybe connected to any portion of the joining member 120 k. The supportmember 270 k may be any kind of device capable of supporting the floralobject 260 k. For example, but not by way of limitation, the supportmember 270 k may be selected from the group consisting of a hook, aplatform, a magnet, wire, adhesive, cohesive, Velcro, a slot, a loop, atab, a groove, a spring, elastic, a band, ribbon, a clip, combinationsthereof, or any other device that is capable of holding and/orsupporting the floral object 260 k.

The support member 270 k may be constructed of the same material as theleg members or the support member 270 k may be constructed of adifferent material than the leg members as long as the material iscapable of holding and/or supporting the floral object 260 k.

The floral easel 10 k may also have a retaining member (not shown) forretaining the leg members in the collapsed position. For example, butnot by way of limitation, the retaining member may be selected from thegroup consisting of elastic, a clip or clips, a spring, a band, shrinkmaterial, stretch material, the joining member 120 k, a carton, a tube,a bend in the leg members, a groove, a slot, a loop, a hook, a wire, abow, a rope, a magnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive,combinations thereof, or any other device capable of retaining the legmembers in the collapsed position. The retaining member may also beconstructed of the same material as the leg members or the retainingmember may be constructed of a different material than the leg membersas long as the material is capable of retaining the leg members in thecollapsed position. Alternatively, the retaining member may beeliminated from the floral easel 10 and the plurality of leg members maybe retained in the collapsed position by the joining member 120 k.

To move the floral easel 10 k from the open or erected position (shownin FIG. 11A) to the collapsed position (shown in FIG. 11B), the firstends of the leg members are moved from the exterior openings (123 k, 124k and 125 k) (FIG. 11C) in the joining member 120 k to the interioropenings (126 k, 127 k, and 128 k) (FIG. 11C) in the joining member 120k.

Shown in FIG. 11D is another embodiment of the floral easel 10 f whereinthe floral easel 10 f has a splay assembly 12 l for sustaining thefloral easel 10 l in the open or erected position. The splay assembly 12l has a bracing assembly 160 l and a reinforcing member 170 l. It shouldbe understood that the splay assembly 12 l may be formed separately fromthe legs or the splay assembly 12 l may be integrally connected to thelegs. Alternatively, the bracing assembly 160 l may be formednon-integrally from the legs and the reinforcing member 170 l may beformed integrally with the legs or vice-versa. The bracing assembly 160l has a first arm 180 l and a second arm 190 l. The first arm 180 l hasa first end 200 l and a second end 210 l. The second arm 190 l has afirst end 220 l and a second end 230 l. The first end 200 l of the firstarm 180 l is connected to the first leg member 20 l. The first end 220 lof the second arm 190 l is connected to the second leg member 30 l. Thesecond end 210 l of the first arm 180 l and the second end 230 l of thesecond arm 190 l are connected to the third leg member 40 l. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 11D, the bracing assembly 160 l is constructedof one continuous piece of material. The first end 200 l of the firstarm 180 l forms a loop 232 l around the first leg member 20 l and isslidably connected to the first leg member 20 l, the first end 220 l ofthe second arm 190 l forms a loop 234 l around the second leg member 30l and is slidably connected to the second leg member 30 l, the secondend 210 l of the first arm 180 l and second end 230 l of the second arm190 l form a contiguous loop 236 l around the third leg member 40 l andthe loop 236 l is slidably and pivotally connected to the third legmember 40 l. It will be appreciated, however, that the first arm 180 land the second arm 190 l may be connected to the leg members in anymanner as long as the leg members are able to fully collapse.

The bracing assembly 160 l may be a single piece of material, or morethan one piece of material. For example, as shown in FIG. 11D, thebracing assembly 160 l is a single piece of material wherein the secondend 210 l of the first arm 180 and the second end 230 l of the secondarm 190 l form a continuous loop around the third leg member 40 lwherein the looped area is slidably and pivotally connected to the thirdleg member 40. If the bracing assembly 160 l is fabricated usingsufficiently flexible and springy material, it need not be slidably orpivotally connected to any or all of the plurality of leg members.

The bracing assembly 160 l may be constructed of the same material asthe leg members or the bracing assembly 160 l may be constructed of adifferent material than the leg members as long as the material allowsthe bracing assembly 160 l to sustain the floral easel 10 in the open orerected position.

If the third leg 40 l is not pivotally connected to at least one of thefirst leg 20 l and the second leg 30 l or, if the third leg 40 l ispivotally connected to at least one of the first leg 20 l and the secondleg 30 l limiting its travel to positions of full erection, fullcollapse, or intermediate positions and, if the first leg 20 l and thesecond leg 30 l are connected to limit travel to positions from fullerection to full collapse, then at least one of the bracing assembly 160l and reinforcing member 170 l can be eliminated from this embodiment ofthe floral easel 10 l.

A stop member 235 l may be connected adjacent and underneath the secondarm 190 l of the bracing assembly 160 l to prevent the bracing assembly160 l from sliding down the second leg member 30 l of the floral easel10 l. The stop member 235 l may be constructed of the same material asthe leg member or of a different material than the leg member. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 11D, the stop member 235 l is a horizontalcross-piece connected adjacent and below the second arm 190 l of thebracing assembly 160 l. However, the stop member 235 l may be connectedto any of the leg members of the floral easel 10 l. It should beunderstood that the stop member 235 l is not required, however, forembodiments in which the bracing assembly 160 l is slidably or pivotallyconnected to at least one leg member, the stop member 235 l aids in theerection and enhances the stability of the floral easel 10 l.

The reinforcing member 170 l has a first end 240 l and a second end 250l. The first end 240 l is connected to the first leg member 20 l and thesecond end 250 l is connected to the second leg member 30 l. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 11D, the first end 240 l forms a loop 252 laround the first leg member 20 l and is slidably connected to the firstleg member 20 l and the second end 250 l forms a loop 254 l around thesecond leg member 30 l and is slidably connected to the second legmember 30 l. It will be appreciated, however, that the first end 240 land second end 250 l may be connected in any manner to the first legmember 20 l and second leg member 30 l of the floral easel 10 l.

For example, but not by way of limitation, the reinforcing member 170 lmay be selected from the group consisting of elastic, a rope, a cord, achain, a strap, a cable, a wire, springs, tubing, plastic, profiles,wood, polymer/fiber, adhesive, cohesive, Velcro, combinations thereof orany other device which allows the floral easel 10 l to be sustained inthe open or erected position. The reinforcing member 170 l may also beconstructed of the same material as the leg members or the reinforcingmember 170 l may be constructed of a different material than the legmembers as long as the material allows the reinforcing member 170 l tosustain the floral easel 10 l in the open or erected position. It willbe appreciated, however, that the reinforcing member 170 l is notnecessary in alternate embodiments where a more flexible floral easel 10l is desirable or acceptable for use.

A stop member 255 l may also be connected to the first leg member 20 lof the floral easel 10 l and placed adjacent and underneath the firstend 240 l of the reinforcing member 170 l for preventing the reinforcingmember 170 l from sliding down the first leg member 20 l of the floraleasel 10 l. However, it should be understood that the stop member 235 lmay be placed on either the first leg member 20 l or the second legmember 30 l of the floral easel 10 l. The stop member 255 l may beconstructed of the same material as the designated leg member or of adifferent material than the designated leg member. In the embodimentshown in FIG. 11D, the stop member 255 l is a horizontal cross-piececonnected adjacent and below the first end 240 l of the reinforcingmember 170 l. However, the stop member 255 l may be connected to eitherthe first leg member 20 l, the second leg member 30, the third legmember 40 l or any of the first leg member 20 l, the second leg member30 l, and the third leg member 40 l of the floral easel 10 l. It shouldbe understood that multiple stop members may be used on the floraleasel. It should also be understood that the stop members are notnecessary to the erection, collapse, or stability of the floral easel 10l; however, the stop members may enhance stability and facilitateerection of the floral easel 10 l. The reinforcing member 170 l may alsoprovide at least one location on the floral easel 10 l to which floralobjects and decorations may be fastened using wire clips, glue or anyother fastening means capable of securing floral objects and decorationsto the floral easel 10 l.

The floral easel 10 l may also have a retaining member 280 l forretaining the leg members in the collapsed position. For example, butnot by way of limitation, the retaining member 280 l may be selectedfrom the group consisting of elastic, a clip or clips, a spring, a band,shrink material, stretch material, the joining member 120 l, a carton, atube, a bend in the leg members, a groove, a slot, a loop, a hook, awire, a bow, a rope, a magnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable,adhesive, combinations thereof, or any other device capable of retainingthe leg members in the collapsed position. The retaining member 280 lmay also be constructed of the same material as the leg members or theretaining member 280 l may be constructed of a different material thanthe leg members as long as the material is capable of retaining the legmembers in the collapsed position. Alternatively, the retaining member280 l may be eliminated from the floral easel 10 l and the plurality ofleg members may be retained in the collapsed position by the joiningmember 120 l.

As shown in FIG. 11D, the retaining member 280 is connected to the firstleg member 20; however, for example, the retaining member 280 may beattached to any of the leg members, the bracing assembly 160, thereinforcing member 170, or to any other area of the floral easel 10 thatis suitable for connecting the retaining member 280 or may be a separatedevice unconnected to the floral easel 10.

To move the floral easel 10 l from the open or erected position (shownin FIG. 11D) to the collapsed position (not shown), the bracing assembly160 l is rotated about the loop 232 l and the loop 234 l to cause theloop 236 l to slide in an upward direction toward the first end 100 l ofthe third leg member 40 l thereby pivoting the third leg member 40 linward toward the area between the first leg member 20 l and the secondleg member 30 l. The reinforcing member 170 l is also moved in an upwarddirection to cause the loop 254 l of the second end 250 l of thereinforcing member 170 l to slide in an upward manner along the firstend 100 l of the second leg member 30 l. The first end 60 l of the firstleg member 20 l and the first end 80 l of the second leg member 30 l arecompressed together thereby decreasing the angle formed at the arch 130l between the center area 140 l of the first leg member 20 l and thesecond leg member 30 l. The second end 70 l, the second end 90 l, andthe second end 110 l may then be inserted into the retaining member 280l forming the leg members into a bundle 290 l (not shown).

The various embodiments of the floral easel described herein in FIGS.1-11, may be further shipped and/or stored. To ship the variousembodiments of the floral easel described herein in FIGS. 1-11, theplurality of legs of the floral easel may be collapsed to the closedposition and held in place by the retaining member; the floral easel maythen be placed into a shipping container such as, for example, a box orcrate, and the floral easel may be shipped to a predetermined location.Further, the various embodiments of the floral easel described herein inFIGS. 1-11, may be placed into a storage area for an indefinite periodof time wherein the plurality of legs are collapsed into the closedposition so as to store the floral easel in a storage area for anindefinite period of time.

Description of FIG. 12

Referring now to FIGS. 12A-12 l, designated generally by the referencenumeral 10 m-10 u, respectively, is a floral easel. The floral easel 10m-10 u has a top end 20 m-20 u, a bottom end 30 m-30 u and a side wall40 m-40 u extending therebetween. The top end 20 m-20 u, the bottom end30 m-30 u and the sidewall 40 m-40 u are formed so as to have theappearance of a cone as shown in FIGS. 12A-12 l. The top end 20 m-20 umay have an aperture therethrough or may be solid. The bottom end 30m-30 u may have an aperture therethrough or may be solid. The floraleasel 10 m-10 u may be a solid structure or may be hollow. The bottomend 30 m-30 u is generally in contact with a substrate 45 m-45 u tothereby support and hold the floral easel 10 m-10 u. The substrate 45m-45 u may be any surface such as, for example, a floor, dirt, grass,fiber, plastic, or any surface capable of supporting the floral easel 10m-10 u thereon.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12A, the floral object (not shown) maybe placed adjacent to the top end 20 m of the floral easel 10 m. In theembodiments shown in FIGS. 12B-12E, a support member 50 n-50 q may beemployed to hold and/or support the floral object; however, any portionof the floral easel 10 n-10 q may hold or support the floral object ornon-floral object. The support member 50 n-50 q may be any kind ofdevice capable of supporting the floral object. For example, but not byway of limitation, the support member 50 n-50 q may be selected from thegroup consisting of a hook, a platform, a magnet, wire, adhesive,cohesive, Velcro, a slot, a loop, a tab, a groove, a spring, elastic, aband, ribbon, a clip, combinations thereof, or any other device that iscapable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 12B, the support member 50 n is a tab createdby making a cut-out in the floral easel 10 n wherein a bottom portion 60n of the support member 50 n remains connected to the floral easel 10 n.In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 12C and 12D, the support member 50 oand 50 p, respectively, is adhesive located on the floral easel 10 o-10p. The adhesive may be, for example, glue, a tab, tape or any other typeof adhesive capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. Theadhesive tab shown in FIGS. 12C and 12D may be any shape such asrectangular as shown in FIG. 12C or circular as shown in FIG. 12D.However, it should be understood that the adhesive may be any shape solong as a floral object may be connected thereto. In the embodimentshown in FIG. 12E, the floral easel 10 q includes an aperture 55 qthrough a portion of the sidewall 40 q of the floral easel 10 q so thata support member (not shown) such as, for example, an s-hook may beplaced therethrough. The aperture 55 q may be any shape and/or size andmay be located on any area of the sidewall 40 q for placing the supportmember therethrough.

In the various embodiments of the floral easel described herein, thesupport member may be constructed of the same material as the floraleasel or the support member may be constructed of a different materialthan the floral easel so long as the material is capable of holdingand/or supporting the floral object. It should be understood however,that the support member is not required. The floral object mayalternatively be placed around the top portion of the floral easel. Itshould also be understood that the floral object may be placed on eitheror both the top portion and/or the support member of the floral easel.

Shown in FIG. 12F is a floral easel 10 r having a portion of thesidewall 40 r removed so as to create a support member 50 r extendingthe length of a sidewall 40 r for placing a floral object therethrough.

Shown in FIG. 12G is a floral easel 10 s having a portion of thesidewall 40 s removed wherein a portion of the sidewall 40 s remainsconnected to the floral easel 10 s thereby creating a support member 50s, such as a tab, for hanging a floral object thereon. The supportmember 50 s may be any shape or size. For example, as shown in FIG. 12G,the support member 50 s is substantially triangular.

It should be understood that in the various embodiments of the floraleasel described herein, the floral easel may have multiple portions ofthe sidewall 40 t-40 u removed as shown in FIGS. 12H and 12 l,respectively. The removed portions of the sidewall 40 t-40 u may serveto allow placement of the floral object therethrough for support of thefloral object. Further, the floral easel 10 t-10 u, as shown in FIGS.12H and 12 l, includes a support member 50 t-50 u, such as a triangulartab, for holding and/or supporting a floral object thereon. It should beunderstood that the support member 50 t-50 u may be any shape and/orsize such as, for example, triangular, square, or circular, so long asthe support member 50 t-50 u is capable of holding and/or supporting thefloral object.

It should be understood that the various embodiments of the floral easeldescribed herein may be any shape and/or size. For example, as shown inFIGS. 13A-13E, the floral easel 10 v-z, respectively, is a five-sidedpyramid. Shown in FIGS. 14A-14E, the floral easel 10 aa-10 ee,respectively, is a five-sided pyramid having a plurality of leg members280 aa-280 ee. Shown in FIGS. 15A-15E, the floral easel 10 ff-10 jj is athree-sided pyramid. Shown in FIGS. 16A-16F, the floral easel 10 kk-10pp is a three-sided pyramid having a plurality of leg members 280 kk-280pp, respectively.

Changes may be made in the construction and operation of the variouscomponents, elements and assemblies described herein or in the steps orsequence of steps of the methods described herein without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the inventive concept(s) as defined in thefollowing claims.

1. A floral easel for holding a floral object, comprising: at leastthree legs having a first end and a second end, the at least three legsintersected with one another to define a vertex, at least one of the atleast three legs having an extended portion extending a distance beyondthe vertex, each of the at least three legs moveable with respect to oneanother about the vertex such that the at least three legs are moveablefrom a collapsed position to an opened position and from an openedposition to a collapsed position, at least a portion of each of the atleast three legs disposed substantially adjacent one another in theopened position and wherein a greater portion of each of the at leastthree legs are disposed substantially adjacent one another in thecollapsed position than in the opened position, in the opened positionat least a portion of each of the at least three legs spaced a distancefrom each other, and wherein the extended portion of at least one of theat least three legs is capable of holding the floral grouping on thefloral easel; a bracing assembly capable of holding the at least threelegs in the opened position; a reinforcing member capable of holding atleast two of the at least three legs in the opened position; and aretaining member capable of holding the at least three legs in thecollapsed position, wherein the retaining member is attached to at leastone of the reinforcing member, at least one of the at least three legs,and the bracing assembly.
 2. The floral easel of claim 1, wherein theretaining member is selected from the group consisting of a hook, aloop, a wire, a bow, a rope, a magnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, acable, adhesive, elastic, clip, spring, band, shrink material, stretchmaterial, a carton, a tube, a bend in at least one of the leg members, agroove, a slot, and combinations thereof.
 3. The floral easel of claim1, further comprising a floral object support member capable of holdingthe floral object on the floral easel, the floral object support memberconnected to the extended portion of the at least one of the at leastthree legs and spatially disposed from the vertex.
 4. The floral easelof claim 1, wherein the at least three legs of the floral easel areformed of a material selected from the group consisting of steel rod(tubular, flat, or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated or uncoated),aluminum rod (tubular, flat, or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated,anodized or uncoated), stainless steel rod (flat or profile shaped)and/or wire (coated or uncoated), plastic pieces of material havingcylindrical, tubular, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal, orother profile shapes or cross-sections of profile shapes, hollow,tubular or profile shaped materials made of metals or polymers, solid orhollow wood, synthetic or man-made materials, natural materials, andcombinations thereof.
 5. The floral easel of claim 1, wherein the secondends of the at least three legs engage a substrate in the openedposition, and wherein in the collapsed position, at least a portion ofthe second ends of each of the three legs are disposed substantiallyadjacent one another.
 6. The floral easel of claim 1, wherein theextended portion of the at least one of the at least three legs and thesecond ends of at least two of the at least three legs engage asubstrate in the opened position.
 7. The floral easel of claim 1,wherein the at least three legs form a substantially pyramidalconfiguration having the extended portion extending from the pyramidalconfiguration when the at least three legs are in the opened position.8. The floral easel of claim 1, wherein the at least three legs and thebracing assembly form a substantially pyramidal configuration when theat least three legs are in the opened position.
 9. A method of using afloral easel, comprising the steps of: erecting a floral easel forholding a floral object to the opened position, whereby the floral easelengages a substrate, the floral easel comprising: at least three legshaving a first end and a second end, the at least three legs intersectedwith one another to define a vertex, at least one of the at least threelegs having an extended portion extending a distance beyond the vertex,each of the at least three legs moveable with respect to one anotherabout the vertex such that the at least three legs are moveable from acollapsed position to an opened position and from an opened position toa collapsed position, at least a portion of each of the at least threelegs disposed substantially adjacent one another in the opened positionand wherein a greater portion of each of the at least three legs aredisposed substantially adjacent one another in the collapsed positionthan in the opened position, in the opened position at least a portionof each of the at least three legs spaced a distance from each other,and wherein the extended portion of at least one of the at least threelegs is capable of holding the floral grouping on the floral easel; abracing assembly capable of holding the at least three legs in theopened position; a reinforcing member capable of holding at least two ofthe at least three legs in the opened position; and a retaining membercapable of holding the at least three legs in the collapsed position,wherein the retaining member is attached to at least one of thereinforcing member, at least one of the at least three legs, and thebracing assembly; attaching the floral object to the extended portion ofthe at least one of the at least three legs; and displaying the floralobject on the floral easel.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein theretaining member is selected from the group consisting of a hook, aloop, a wire, a bow, a rope, a magnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, acable, adhesive, elastic, clip, spring, band, shrink material, stretchmaterial, a carton, a tube, a bend in at least one of the leg members, agroove, a slot, and combinations thereof.
 11. The method of claim 9,wherein the floral easel further comprises a floral object supportmember capable of holding the floral object on the floral easel, thefloral object support member connected to the extended portion of the atleast one of the at least three legs and spatially disposed from thevertex.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least three legs ofthe floral easel are formed of a material selected from the groupconsisting of steel rod (tubular, flat, or profile shaped) and/or wire(coated or uncoated), aluminum rod (tubular, flat, or profile shaped)and/or wire (coated, anodized or uncoated), stainless steel rod (flat orprofile shaped) and/or wire (coated or uncoated), plastic pieces ofmaterial having cylindrical, tubular, triangular, square, rectangular,polygonal, or other profile shapes or cross-sections of profile shapes,hollow, tubular or profile shaped materials made of metals or polymers,solid or hollow wood, synthetic or man-made materials, naturalmaterials, and combinations thereof.
 13. The method of claim 9 wherein,in the step of erecting the floral easel to the opened position, the atleast three legs form a substantially pyramidal configuration having theextended portion extending from the pyramidal configuration.
 14. Themethod of claim 9 wherein, in the step of erecting the floral easel tothe opened position, the at least three legs and the bracing assemblyform a substantially pyramidal configuration.
 15. A method of storing afloral easel, comprising the steps of: moving a floral easel for holdinga floral object from an erected position to a collapsed position, thefloral easel comprising: at least three legs having a first end and asecond end, the at least three legs intersected with one another todefine a vertex, at least one of the at least three legs having anextended portion extending a distance beyond the vertex, each of the atleast three legs moveable with respect to one another about the vertexsuch that the at least three legs are moveable from a collapsed positionto an opened position and from an opened position to a collapsedposition, at least a portion of each of the at least three legs disposedsubstantially adjacent one another in the opened position and wherein agreater portion of each of the at least three legs are disposedsubstantially adjacent one another in the collapsed position than in theopened position, in the opened position at least a portion of each ofthe at least three legs spaced a distance from each other, and whereinthe extended portion of at least one of the at least three legs iscapable of holding the floral grouping on the floral easel; a bracingassembly capable of holding the at least three legs in the openedposition; a reinforcing member capable of holding at least two of the atleast three legs in the opened position; and a retaining member capableof holding the at least three legs in the collapsed position, whereinthe retaining member is attached to at least one of the reinforcingmember, at least one of the at least three legs, and the bracingassembly; placing the floral easel into a storage area; and storing thefloral easel in the storage area for a period of time.
 16. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the retaining member is selected from the groupconsisting of a hook, a loop, a wire, a bow, a rope, a magnet, a cord, achain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, elastic, clip, spring, band, shrinkmaterial, stretch material, a carton, a tube, a bend in at least one ofthe leg members, a groove, a slot, and combinations thereof.
 17. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the floral easel further comprises a floralobject support member capable of holding the floral object on the floraleasel, the floral object support member connected to the extendedportion of the at least one of the at least three legs and spatiallydisposed from the vertex.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the atleast three legs of the floral easel are formed of a material selectedfrom the group consisting of steel rod (tubular, flat, or profileshaped) and/or wire (coated or uncoated), aluminum rod (tubular, flat,or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated, anodized or uncoated), stainlesssteel rod (flat or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated or uncoated),plastic pieces of material having cylindrical, tubular, triangular,square, rectangular, polygonal, or other profile shapes orcross-sections of profile shapes, hollow, tubular or profile shapedmaterials made of metals or polymers, solid or hollow wood, synthetic orman-made materials, natural materials, and combinations thereof.
 19. Themethod of claim 15, further comprising the step of retaining the atleast three legs in the collapsed position by engaging the legs with theretaining member.